Segment angle. The thigh segment angle was different between the two movements. The range of the segment angle in resistance running was greater than the segment angle of normal running. The main cause of the difference in range was the maximum angle in the thigh segment. The minimum angles of normal and resistance running were &endash;21 degrees and &endash;23 degrees respectively. The maximum angle for normal running was 12 degrees and for resistance running it was 20 degrees. The range for the movements was 34 degrees for normal running and 43 degrees for resistance running.
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Figure 3. Thigh segment for normal running (left) and resistance running (right). The segment angle was calculated from a horizontal axis through the hip joint in the frontal plane. Anatomical position for the thigh was at 0 degrees. Increasing values represent counter-clockwise rotation | |
Joint angle 1.The pattern of motion for the knee joint angle in normal and resistance running was different. The range showed a 45 degree difference in the maximum flexion and 50 degree total range difference. The difference was noted in the maximum angle values of knee flexion. The minimum angles of normal running and resistance running were 183 degrees and 179 degrees respectively. The maximum angle for normal running was 259 degrees and 304 degrees for resistance running. The range of normal running was 76 degrees and for resistance running it was 126 degrees.
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Figure 4. Knee angle in the normal runner (left) and resistance runner (right). Knee angle was calculated as the angle between the lower leg and thigh segments. Anatomical position for the knee joint corresponds to 180 degrees. Increasing angles represent flexion. | |
Joint angle 2. The ankle joint angles in normal and resistance running were similar in range but different in maximum angle. The maximum dorsiflexion angle was 116 degrees for normal running and 134 degrees for resistance running. The maximum plantarflexion angles for normal and resistance running were 116 and 104 degrees respectively. The range was similar for these movements with a value of 27 degrees for normal and 29 degrees for resistance running.
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Figure 5. Ankle angle in normal running (left) and resistance running (right). Ankle angle was calculated as the angle between the lower leg and foot. Anatomical position for the ankle occurred at 110 degrees for normal running and resistance running. Increasing angles corresponded to dorsiflexion. | |
Joint velocity. The ankle joint angular velocity for normal and resistance running showed an extreme difference. The maximum angular velocity for dorsiflexion in normal running was 413 degrees/second while in resistance running it was 667 degrees/second. The maximum angular velocity for plantarflexion in normal running was 151 degrees/second and in resistance running, 571 degrees/second.
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Figure 6. Ankle joint angular velocity in the normal runner (left) and the resistance runner (right). Positive values represent dorsiflexion. | |
Angle-Angle Plot. . The knee and thigh segment angles in normal and resistance running coordinated very differently. Coordination in normal running was smooth and predicted. In this movement the stance phase consisted of a slow thigh segment angle extension and knee extension. Then the swing phase began with rapid flexion then extension in the vertical axis while the thigh segment angle flexed along the horizontal axis. In resistance running the pattern was jerky and quick with most of the movement occurring along the vertical axis showing rapid flexion and extension of the knee. There was a small range for the thigh segment angle. The stance phase was shown by flexion in the thigh segment. The swing phase consisted of all knee flexion then extension.
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Figure 7. Coordination of the thigh segment angle and knee angle in normal running (left) and resistance running (right). The horizontal plane arrow indicates where movement begins corresponding with anatomical position. The vertical plane arrow indicates flexion and extension in the swing phase | |
