Effects of step frequency during running on the magnitude and symmetry of ground reaction forces in individuals with a transfemoral amputation.
Toshiki Kobayashi, Mark W P Koh, Mingyu Hu and 4 others
PMID 35321725WHAT IT FOUND
Running faster steps lowered forces on both prosthetic and intact limbs.
However, it increased asymmetry, with the prosthetic side bearing more load. Optimal symmetry occurred near the runner's preferred step rate, not the fastest rate.
Key findings
01Increasing step frequency reduced the magnitude of ground reaction forces in both limbs, except for lateral forces on the prosthetic side.
02Gait asymmetry in peak vertical force was minimized between 5% below and the preferred step frequency.
03Participants could not match the step frequency of their intact and prosthetic limbs equally well at higher speeds, introducing further asymmetry.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used an instrumented split-belt treadmill, so results may not generalize directly to overground running. Participants were experienced track and field athletes, so findings may not apply to the general population of individuals with amputation. The small sample size of nine participants limited statistical power. Participants could not perfectly match the metronome frequency, and realized step frequencies differed between limbs, which may have affected symmetry results.
Declared interests
Funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a higher step frequency is universally better for reducing injury risk. While it lowered total forces, it increased asymmetry between the prosthetic and intact limbs, and the optimal balance for symmetry was near the runner's natural preferred rate.