Date of Award

2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Department

Kinesiology

First Advisor

Susan E. D'Andrea

Abstract

Runners experience high injury prevalence, which can be attributed to the overloading of the musculoskeletal system during the repetitive motion of running (Kakouris et al. 2021, Lopes et al. 2012). While some running mechanics are associated with better performance or increased risk for developing an orthopedic condition, many are still poorly understood (Van Hooren et al. 2024, Willwacher et al. 2022). Center of pressure and frontal plane knee moments are two such mechanics with a limited body of evidence leading to its importance (Mehdizadeh et al 2021, Baker et al. 2018). Although running mechanics describe the motion, the origin of biomechanical changes is a complicated web of interactions involving several joints and outside factors. Fatigue is a relevant outside factor as it has been shown to alter plantar pressures and spatiotemporal measurements in running gait (Kim et al. 2018, Apte et al. 2021). Shoe design is another major outside factor, as shoe design and material can impact joint kinetics/kinematics, plantar pressures, and running economy (Yang et al. 2020, Szulc et al. 2017, Branthwaite et al. 2013, Moore 2016). Few studies have investigated the relationship between shoe forefoot design and fatigue on the center of pressure and frontal plane knee moments.

To understand the impact and relationship of shoe forefoot design and fatigue on running mechanics, this study examines recreationally trained runners in two shoe conditions and two fatigue conditions and measured the effects on their center of pressure and frontal plane knee moments. Ten participants were included in this study, all of which ran at least 8 miles per week at an average pace of at least 10 minutes per mile. All participants engaged in all levels of both conditions. The University of Rhode Island IRB approved this study.

Chapter 1, Review of Literature, provides background information about running for injury prevention/performance, fatigue on running mechanics, and the effect of shoe design on running mechanics.

Chapter 2, THE EFFECTS OF SHOE FOREFOOT DESIGN ON CENTER OF PRESSURE AND KNEE MOMENTS DURING RUNNING IN A FATIGUED AND NON-FATIGUED STATE, presents the manuscript for this project. In this study, the impact and relationship of shoe forefoot design and fatigue were investigated in terms of center of pressure and frontal plane knee moments. The results indicate that the center of pressure had less mediolateral excursion when running in the wider shoe. Additionally, running in a non-fatigued state also had less mediolateral center of pressure excursion. The implications of this study’s findings are addressed. This manuscript is in preparation for submission to Gait and Posture.

Chapter 3, Summary, provides a review of the results and limitations of the study and discusses potential directions of future research.

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