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Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

1-14-2026

Abstract

With the increase in life expectancy and the health benefits of exercise, running has become a popular physical activity. Nonetheless, the incidence of running-related injuries remains high. Knee mechanics during running, particularly excessive movements and angles in the frontal and transverse planes, have been identified as potential biomechanical risk factors for the development of injuries. Variations in the frontal and transverse plane measurements across studies may result from differences in static standing postures, such as toe-in or toe-out positions, which might influence knee mechanics during running. This study aimed to identify the effects of different static standing postures on knee mechanics during running. Twenty healthy participants (10 males and 10 females; age: 24.7±1.3 years; height: 1.73±0.08 m; weight: 66.5±10.7 kg) completed three different static calibration trials: (1) 30° toe-in, (2) 0° neutral position, and (3) 30° toe-out, prior to running at their self-selected speeds. A twelve-camera three-dimensional VICON motion analysis system, integrated with two AMTI force platforms, was utilized to capture knee mechanics data during running. Repeated-measures ANOVA with statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was applied to assess differences across static calibration posture trials. Significant differences were observed in knee flexion angle (29.7%-33.8%, F=5.55, p=0.048), adduction/abduction angle (0-100%, F=129.01, p < 0.001), and internal/external rotation angle (0-100%, F=58.58, P < 0.001). Post hoc analyses revealed that, compared to 0°, knee flexion angle decreased with greater toe-in angles during the early stance phase (p=0.006). Knee flexion angle increased progressively (p < 0.001), while internal rotation angle decreased progressively during most of the stance phase (p < 0.001), with greater toe-out angles. Significant differences were found in knee extension moments (0-1.8%, F=16.34, p < 0.045;9.9%-10.1%, F=6.16, p < 0.05; 11.7%-13.7%, F=7.26, p < 0.045; 14.2%-21.9%, F=9.32, p < 0.008) and knee adduction moments (9.3%-55.3%, F=63.16, p < 0.001; 64.8%-86.4%, F=39.06, p < 0.001). Post hoc analyses revealed that knee internal moment decreased with greater toe-out angles (p < 0.001); however, knee extension moment increased with greater toe-out angles only in the early stance phase (p < 0.05). No significant differences in knee internal rotation moment were observed across conditions (p > 0.05). This study represents the first attempt to utilize SPM to analyze the effects of different static postures on knee mechanics during running. Alterations in static standing postures significantly influenced knee mechanics measurements. Consequently, this study underscores the critical need to standardize foot positioning in static trials to minimize potential misinterpretations of intervention efficacy and intergroup differences in clinical research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.5.1.137.boisestate

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