A kinematics and kinetic comparison of overground and treadmill running

Riley, Patrick O.; Dicharry, Jay; Franz, Jason; Della Croce, Ugo; Wilder, Rrobert P.; Kerrigan, D. Casey

Affiliations

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

²Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, ITALY

Abstract and keywords

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic and kinetic parameters of treadmill running to those of overground running.

Methods: Twenty healthy young subjects ran overground at their self-selected moderate running speed. Motion capture and ground reaction force (GRF) data for three strides of each limb were recorded and the subjects' average running speed was evaluated. The subjects then ran on an instrumented treadmill set to their average overground running speed while motion capture and GRF data were recorded. The kinematics (body segment orientations and joint angles) and kinetics (net joint moments and joint powers) for treadmill (15 consecutive gait cycles) and overground running (three cycles each limb) were calculated and compared.

Results: The features of the kinematic and kinetic trajectories of treadmill gait were similar to those of overground gait. Statistically significant differences in knee kinematics,the peak values of GRF, joint moment, and joint power trajectories were identified.

Discussion: Parameters measured with an adequate instrumented treadmill are comparable to but not directly equivalent to those measured for overground running. With such an instrument, it is possible to study the mechanics of running under well-controlled and reproducible conditions.

Significance: Treadmill-based analysis of running mechanics can be generalized to overground running mechanics, provided the treadmill surface is sufficiently stiff and belt speed is adequately regulated.

Keywords: biomechanics; ground reaction forces; inverse dynamics; joint angles; joint moments; joint powers

Links

DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181677530

PubMed: 000256157500015

WoS: 18460996

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2013	Riley PO, Kent RW, Dierks TA, Lievers WB, Frimenko RE, Crandall JR. Foot kinematics and loading of professional athletes in American football-specific tasks. Gait Post. September 2013;38(4):563-569.
2023	Song K, Hullfish TJ, Scattone Silva R, Silbernagel KG, Baxter JR. Markerless motion capture estimates of lower extremity kinematics and kinetics are comparable to marker-based across 8 movements. J Biomech. August 2023;157:111751.
2025	DeJong Lempke AF, Audet AP, Wasserman MG, Melvin AC, Soldes K, Heithoff E, Shah S, Kozloff KM, Lepley AS. Biomechanical differences and variability during sustained motorized treadmill running versus outdoor overground running using wearable sensors. J Biomech. January 2025;178:112443.
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