Wilson Bennett
Wilson Bennett is currently a junior within the School of Public Health from Logansport, Indiana. Wilson is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology, through an exercise science major and medical science minor; all while actively participating in the School of Public Health Honors Program. Wilson found interest in the biomechanics research lab due to the professional experience and implications associated with research. Biomechanics was a perfect match for a student pursuing a professional career in physical therapy. Future ambitions include completing graduate school to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy and treating patients suffering from athletic related injuries.
COMPARISON OF GROUND REACTION FORCES REGARDING DIFFERING BODY COMPOSITION IN RUNNERS
Background: Ground reaction force (GRF) variables may be linked to running-related injury. Bodyweight influences only the vertical GRF component. Understanding how body composition influences injury-related GRF measures will give us better understanding on running injuries.
Purpose: Determine the correlation between body composition and GRF variables.
Methods: Twenty-two experienced runners (18-30yrs) ran over force plates at 3.35m/s (1200Hz). GRF variables included vertical impact peak (VIP), vertical active peak, vertical loading rate, anteroposterior GRF breaking (APBRAKE) and propulsion (APPROPULSION) peaks. Dual X-ray Absorptiometry yielded absolute and relative (%) fat and lean mass for whole body and leg. Pearson’s correlation tested associations between body composition and GRF.
Results: GRF data normalized to bodyweight presented moderate to strong correlations: total-leg lean mass percentage with VIP (r=0.440, p=0.004); total-leg absolute lean mass with APBRAKE (r=-0.643, p=0.001) and with APPROPULSION (r=0.597, p=0.003). These and additional correlations were slightly stronger when using non-bodyweight normalized GRFs.
Conclusions: Assuming muscle tissue comprises large proportions of lean mass, the correlation between leg lean mass percentage and VIP may increase due to greater dense muscle tissue in the leg. More muscle tissue may enable greater horizontal force generation during push-off and greater ability to control landing and deceleration in braking. These results suggest that greater bodyweight normalized and non-bodyweight normalized GRF metrics may not be related to running injury as previously thought. Instead, greater GRF metrics may simply reflect the kinetic-requirement to change the motion of a limb with greater lean tissue mass.
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