Skeletal transients on heel strike in normal walking with different footwear

Light, L. H.; McLellan, G. E.; Klenerman, L.

Affiliations

¹Clinical Research Centre and Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, England

Abstract

Simultaneous measurements during normal walking of the transient acceleration on heel strike in the tibia and skull show peaks of ∼ 5 g and 0.5 g respectively when hard heels were worn. Resilient heels halved the amplitudes, while rebound could be avoided by a construction including a viscoelastic polymer insert. The transient is propagated as travelling waves up (and outwards from) the skeleton, its inconspicuous appearance in force plate studies being due to the non-uniform and non-synchronous acceleration of various parts of the body.

Implications of these findings are noted, including the potential contribution of heel strike transients to osteoarthritic degeneration. Aggravation of symptoms in sufferers from back troubles may well be due to shear induced by them in para-osteal tissue. Possible physiological roles for the transients, which may account for their existence, are also mentioned.

Links

DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(80)90340-1

PubMed: 6447153

WoS: A1980JX18500003

History

Received: 1979-01-2

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (19)

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1986	Nigg BM. Experimental techniques used in running shoe research. In: Nigg BM, ed. Biomechanics of Running Shoes. Champaign, IL: Inc., Human Kinetics Publishers; 1986:27-61.
2010	Szarko M, Muldrew K, Bertram JEA. Freeze-thaw treatment effects on the dynamic mechanical properties of articular cartilage. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. October 2010;11:231.
1997	Burr DB. Bone, exercise, and stress fractures. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. January 1997;25(1):171-194.
2003	Tong J, Lim CS, Goh OL. Technique to study the biomechanical properties of the human calcaneal heel pad. Foot. June 2003;13(2):83-91.
1994	Kim W, Voloshin AS, Johnson SH. Modeling of heel strike transients during running. Hum Mov Sci. June 1994;13(2):221-244.
1985	Dickinson JA, Cook SD, Leinhardt TM. The measurement of shock waves following heel strike while running. J Biomech. 1985;18(6):415-422.
1988	Whalen RT, Carter DR, Steele CR. Influence of physical activity on the regulation of bone density. J Biomech. 1988;21(10):825-837.
2007	Milgrom C, Radeva-Petrova DR, Finestone A, Nyska M, Mendelson S, Benjuya N, Simkin A, Burr D. The effect of muscle fatigue on in vivo tibial strains. J Biomech. 2007;40(4):845-850.
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2013	Andrews S. Meniscus Structure and Function [PhD thesis]. Calgary, AB: University of Calgary; January 2013.
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