Are there differences in lower limb kinematics between runners with and without a history of previous injuries? A cross-sectional study using Statistical Parametric Mapping - SPM

• Grant number: 25/05790-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Viadanna Serrão
• Grantee: Leticia de Freitas Bueno
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Running-related injuries affect more than 79% of runners, with a history of previous injuries being the leading risk factor. Changes in running kinematics following previous injuries may be associated with new injuries in runners. However, there is little evidence that runners with previous injuries exhibit kinematic alterations. A limitation of previous studies is the use of discrete variables (such as peak angular values). The use of discrete variables in human movement analysis does not provide a comprehensive description of the observed motion. Unlike the discrete variable approach, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) is a method used to identify differences between individuals and conditions throughout the entire kinematic time series, making it a more robust movement analysis method than discrete variable analysis. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in hip, knee, and rearfoot kinematics during treadmill running between runners with and without a history of previous running-related injuries, using the SPM analysis method. The study will include male and female runners aged between 18 and 40 years, with and without a history of previous lower limb running-related injuries. The history of previous running-related injuries will be assessed using a questionnaire. Kinematic data collection will be performed using a three-dimensional motion analysis system composed of seven cameras. Time series of hip angles in the frontal and transverse planes, as well as knee and ankle angles in the frontal plane, will be analyzed using SPM. Independent sample t-tests using SPM will be applied to the normalized time series. The significance level will be set at 5%. (AU)