Section: Technical Note
Authors: Neil E. Bezodisa,b, Aki I.T. Salob, Grant Trewarthab
Affiliations: aSchool of Human Sciences, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, UK. bSport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Bath, UK.
Abstract
Two-dimensional analyses of sprint kinetics are commonly undertaken but often ignore the metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) joint and model the foot as a single segment. Due to the linked-segment nature of inverse dynamics analyses, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ignoring the MTP joint on the calculated joint kinetics at the other stance leg joints during sprinting. High-speed video and force platform data were collected from four to five trials for each of three international athletes. Resultant joint moments, powers and net work at the stance leg joints during the first stance phase after block clearance were calculated using three different foot models. By ignoring the MTP joint, peak extensor moments at the ankle, knee and hip were on average 35% higher (P < 0.05 for each athlete), 40% lower (P < 0.05) and 9% higher (P > 0.05), respectively, than those calculated with the MTP joint included. Peak ankle and knee joint powers and net work at all joints were also significantly (P < 0.05) different. By ignoring a genuine MTP joint plantarflexor moment, artificially high peak ankle joint moments are calculated, and these also affect the calculated joint kinetics at the knee.
Keywords: Biomechanics, foot model, joint moments, metatarsal-phalangeal, sprint start
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