Tag: JJ Hannigan

Age-Related Differences in Healthy Male Runners

Presenter: Justine Silberberg

Mentors: JJ Hannigan and Li-Shan Chou, Human Physiology

Poster: 60

Major: Human Physiology

Previous research suggests that older males display less ankle plantar flexion and greater hip flexion during gait compared to younger individuals. Differences in running gait between younger and older individuals, however, are largely unknown. This study investigated differences in strength, flexibility, and range of motion between younger runners (n = 15; age range = 18-21) and older runners (n = 10; age range = 40-51). All subjects were males who ran at least 20 miles per week. For testing, subjects ran continuous laps of approximately 40-meters in the Motion Analysis Laboratory. Running kinematics were collected using a 10-camera motion capture system, strength was measured using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer, and flexibility was measured statically by a trained clinician. Independent sample t-tests were used to examine group differences. Older individuals were found to have increased hamstring flexibility, increased first metatarsal-phalangeal joint range of motion, decreased quadriceps flexibility, and decreased trunk flexion compared to younger runners (p < 0.01). Limitations include the relatively small sample size and cross-sectional nature of this study. Understanding age-related differences in running gait may help clinicians better treat injuries in older runners. Future studies exploring age-related differences in running should recruit a wider age range and follow these individuals over time.

Correlations between Static and Dynamic Asymmetry in Runners

Presenter: Varneet Brar

Mentors: Li-Shan Chou and JJ Hannigan, Human Physiology

Poster: 6

Major: Human Physiology 

Asymmetry between limbs can be assessed statically, as measured by passive flexibility and range of motion (ROM), and dynamically, as measured by joint angle ROM during gait. Both types of asymmetry have been suggested as possible factors in developing a lower limb injury. The purpose of this study was to identify if there is a correlation between static and dynamic asymmetry. Sixty healthy subjects running at least 20 miles per week participated in the study. Dynamic joint angle ROM for the hip and knee was collected as subjects ran continuous laps in the UO Motion Analysis Laboratory using a 10 camera motion capture system. Static flexibility and ROM were measured by a trained clinician using a goniometer. Static and dynamic asymmetry between limbs was then calculated using an established method: the symmetry index (SI). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to test the strength of the relationships between static and dynamic SI. A moderate, significant correlation was found between static hip internal rotation ROM and dynamic hip internal rotation ROM (r = 0.296, p = 0.035). No additional significant correlations were found. As internal hip rotation has been linked to lower limb injury, future studies should investigate whether clinical correction for static asymmetry, especially for hip internal rotation, alters asymmetry during running gait. Correcting these asymmetries may help prevent injury setbacks for both recreational and competitive runners.

Symmetry Differences in Clinical and Running Measures between Achilles Tendinopathy and Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and Controls

Presenter: Varneet Brar

Faculty Mentor: Li-Shan Chou, JJ Hannigan

Presentation Type: Poster 80

Primary Research Area: Science

Major: Human Physiology

Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) are two common overuse injuries prevalent in the running population (Gallo et al, 2012). Susceptibility to such injuries may arise from training errors, but biomechanical and structural asymmetries may also be contributing factors (Zifchock, 2008). The purpose of this study was to compare static and dynamic asymmetries between injured (AT and MTSS) and healthy runners. 12 AT and 9 MTSS injured subjects and 21 matched, healthy, uninjured subjects running at least 20 miles per week participated in the study. Dynamic ankle range of motion (ROM) was collected as subjects ran continuous laps in the UO Motion Analysis Laboratory using a 10 camera motion capture system. Static flexibility and ROM measures of the lower extremity were gathered by a trained clinician using a goniometer. Asymmetry between limbs for both running and clinical measures was then calculated using an established method: the symmetry index (SI). An independent samples t-test calculated differences between the symmetry indices of injured and control subjects, p < .05. A significant difference between AT and matched controls was seen for ankle dorsiflexion (p = 0.041). Subtalar eversion (p=0.052) also trended towards significance. In both measures, there was greater asymmetry in the injured population. No additional significant differences were found. Future studies should evaluate the efficacy of corrections to these asymmetries in runners with AT.

The Effects of a Fatiguing Run on Hip Abductor Muscle Strength and Pelvic Kinematics

Presenter(s): Hao Tan − Human Physiology

Co Presenter(s): Colin Lipps

Faculty Mentor(s): Li-Shan Chou, JJ Hannigan

Poster 24

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Funding: UROP Mini-Grant, Sue Grigsby Scholarship, William and Marjorie Shearon Memorial Scholarship

Existing literature has identified several risk factors for the development of lower limb pathologies in recreational runners, including hip abductor muscle strength deficits as well as abnormal patterns in pelvic running kinematics. Studies have indicated that hip abductor muscles play a role in stabilizing the hip during running and that hip abductor strength deficits are associated with the development of overuse injuries as well as abnormal pelvic kinematics while performing tasks upright. However, the relationship between hip abductor strength deficits and abnormal pelvic kinematics while running remains unclear. This study intends to clarify the relationship between hip abductor muscle fatigue and associated pelvic kinematic changes in healthy runners by implementing a novel 30-minute lactate threshold treadmill run as a fatigue protocol while investigating pelvic kinematic changes at 7 equidistant time points over the course of the protocol. In terms of analyzing pelvic kinematics, this study implemented a dynamical systems approach, analyzing the variability of Trunk-Pelvis and Pelvis- Thigh segment couplings in the 3 anatomical planes, as well as an analysis of individual pelvic kinematic variables, specifically pelvic drop, hip adduction, trunk lean, and hip internal rotation. 23 subjects, between the ages of 18 – 40 who have not sustained major running related injuries and regularly run at least 20 miles a week, participated in this study. Participants performed a triplet of hip abductor muscle maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) to establish a baseline and a post-fatigue strength assessment before and after a 30-minute fatiguing run, during which kinematic changes were assessed. Using a significance threshold of 0.05, it was found that hip abductor strength decreased significantly following the fatigue protocol (p < 0.0001) while pelvic drop significantly increased following the fatigue protocol (p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in trunk lean, hip adduction, or hip internal rotation. The results of a repeated measures one-way ANOVA used on the entire participant pool indicated that there were no significant changes in variability between the 7-time points for both Trunk-Pelvis and Pelvis-Thigh coupled segments in the three anatomical planes. However, paired t-tests indicated that female participants experienced a significant decrease in variability within the sagittal plane of Pelvis-Thigh (p < 0.001) coupled segments and the frontal plane of Trunk-Pelvis (p < 0.01) coupled segments following the fatigue protocol. The experimental results indicate that a 30-minute lactate threshold treadmill run is an effective method of inducing hip abductor fatigue and potential increases in pelvic drop. Additionally, the findings of the dynamical systems approach used implicates that females may be more prone to lower limb overuse pathologies, which is consistent with the experimental findings of past studies.