INFLUENCE OF TURN RADIUS OF RUNNING ON TORSIONAL LOADING OF THE TIBIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate influence of turn radius of running on the torsional loading of the tibia. Six male subjects ran on a straightway and anti-clockwise corners with different turn radiuses (R=15m and 5m). Data were collected using two high-speed cameras and force platforms. The torsional stresses acting on the inner tibias of runners were compared among each running condition. At beginning, net torsional moments at both ends of the lower leg were calculated. Then, the tibial torsional stresses were estimated, based on equilibrium of those moments. Much larger torsional stress acted on the tibia in later portion of the stance phase of sharper cornering compared to other two running conditions. Mean value of the maximum stress in sharper cornering was also significantly larger (p<0.05). These results suggested that the more sharply runners turned the larger torsional loading acted on the inner tibia of runners.