STUDY DESIGN:
Cross-sectional controlled laboratory study.OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the kinematics of the hip, knee, and rearfoot in the frontal and transverse planes in female distance runners with a history of tibial stress fracture.BACKGROUND:
Tibial stress fractures are a common overuse injury in runners, accounting for up to half of all stress fractures. Abnormal kinematics of the lower extremity may contribute to abnormal musculoskeletal load distributions, leading to an increased risk of stress fractures.METHODS:
Thirty female runners with a history of tibial stress fracture were compared to 30 age-matched and weekly-running-distance-matched control subjects with no previous lower extremity bony injuries. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a motion capture system and a force platform, respectively, as subjects ran in the laboratory. Selected variables of interest were compared between the groups using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).RESULTS:
Peak hip adduction and peak rearfoot eversion angles were greater in the stress fracture group compared to the control group. Peak knee adduction and knee internal rotation angles and all joint angles at impact peak were similar between the groups.CONCLUSION:
Runners with a previous tibial stress fracture exhibited greater peak hip adduction and rearfoot eversion angles during the stance phase of running compared to healthy controls. A consequence of these mechanics may be altered load distribution within the lower extremity, predisposing individuals to stress fracture.
My comments:
I thought this study was interesting because I have been reading studies and blogging on patellofemoral pain and plantar fasciitis. I’ve been finding there are likely similar causes/results from each condition, being hip adduction (the thigh moving more towards midline of the body) and or internal rotation and flat feet (AKA fallen arches, over pronation). This study found largely the same thing with tibial stress fractures in female runners. They did not find increased hip internal rotation but they did find increased hip adduction, and when they talk about “rearfoot eversion,” that is another measure of fallen arches or flat feet.
The researchers concluded that hip abduction strengthening and arch supports might be good for treatment and/prevention. Both of those sound reasonable, but I would suggest a general lower extremity and core strength training program. Though it is true the hip abductors do tend to be particularly weak, runners with patellofemoral pain and plantar fasciites have been found to have more global muscle weakness as well. Strengthening the foot intrinsic muscles might also help to support the arches and lessen tibial stress.
The researches also said:
“The greater hip adduction in the stress fracture group may be the result of the greater rearfoot eversion, or, conversely the greater hip adduction may be the cause of greater rear foot eversion.”
I was thinking this very thing with relation to plantar fasciitis and fallen arches. If the hips are weak and the thigh adducts and internally rotates, it puts increased stress on the arch of the foot, and might be causing a flattening effect on the feet. This may potentially result in foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendinitis, acquired flat foot deformity, patellofemoral pain, and as this study indicates tibial stress fractures. And let’s not forget greater trochanteric pain syndrome/trochanteric bursitis. Even low back pain is associated with LE weakness. The picture coming together from all this research is that all of these problems stem from the same cause (generalized LE, and likely core, weakness) which perhaps isn’t so much overuse in running but rather underuse of strength training. The result is muscles aren’t strong enough to properly support bones and joints, causing breakdown of tissue wherever the weak link in the chain is (be it the hip, knee, tibia, ankle or foot). Worse is that injury of the weak link alters running and walking mechanics, and often due to disuse leaves the rest of the chain in a weakened condition, more prone to further injury.
Knowing all this I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that passive modalities (stretching, soft tissue mobilization, foam rolls, ultrasound, dry needling, kinesio tape, or whatever the current fad is) in physical therapy probably isn’t the best use of anyone’s limited resources. Probably it’s better to add some balanced and well prescribed strength training to your running program. The good news is that while one should take time off from running to let a stress fracture heal, there is a lot of strengthening that can be done both above and below the fracture site that won’t place any stress on it.
Thanks for reading my blog. If you have any questions or comments (even hostile ones) please don’t hesitate to ask/share. If you’re reading one of my older blogs, perhaps unrelated to neck or back pain, and it helps you, please remember SpineFit Yoga for you or someone you know in the future.
Chad Reilly is a Physical Therapist, obtaining his Master’s in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. Exercise Science also from NAU. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and holds a USA Weightlifting Club Coach Certification as well as a NASM Personal Training Certificate. Chad completed his Yoga Teacher Training at Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India.
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