The effect of fatigue on running mechanics in older and younger runners.
Brianne Borgia, Janet S Dufek, Julia Freedman Silvernail and 1 others
PMID 35914388WHAT IT FOUND
Older and younger runners adapted to fatigue similarly, with no interaction between age and exertion.
Both groups showed slightly reduced knee range of motion and increased hip extension moment when tired. The change in knee motion was small, likely not clinically meaningful.
Key findings
01There were no significant interactions between fatigue and age, meaning older and younger runners responded to exertion in a comparable way.
02Regardless of age, runners exhibited decreased knee range of motion and greater hip extension moment in the fatigued state compared to the rested state.
03Older runners generated less knee power and greater hip power compared to younger runners, consistent with a shift toward using the hip more.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The change in knee range of motion (0.5 degrees) was statistically significant but likely clinically negligible. The 'fatigued' state was induced by a maximal treadmill test, not a typical long-distance run, so the physiological context may not match real-world running fatigue. Running velocity was not strictly controlled during the fatigued condition, which may have influenced gait mechanics differently than the rested condition. The study was small (n=30) and cross-sectional, limiting generalizability.
Declared interests
The authors declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the statistically significant decrease in knee range of motion as a major injury risk factor. The actual change was 0.5 degrees, which the authors state may not be clinically important given the total range of motion.