THE INFLUENCE OF SPEED ON PATELLOFEMORAL JOINT KINETICS IN RECREATIONAL RUNNERS

This study aimed to determine the influence of running speed on patellofemoral joint (PFJ) kinetics. Twenty recreational runners ran on an instrumented treadmill at four running speeds with simultaneous 3D motion capture. A musculoskeletal model derived peak and cumulative (per 1km of continuous running) PFJ force and stress for each speed. Peak PFJ force and stress significantly increased with faster speeds. In contrast, cumulative PFJ measures decreased with faster speeds. Running at faster speeds increases the magnitude of peak PFJ kinetics but conversely results in less accumulated force over a set distance. Clinicians and coaches should be aware of the relatively high PFJ cumulative force and stress associated with slow running (~2.5 m/s) and consider moderate-speed interval running as part of overuse knee injury prevention and management plans