Abstract
Tibial stress fractures, which are among the most serious overuse injuries in runners, are related to lower extremity loading variables (i.e., vertical impact peak, average and instantaneous vertical loading rate). Although anthropometric variables are thought to be associated with the loading variables, evidence regarding the relationship has not been reported. The goal of this study was to predict the loading variables during running using anthropometric features. Ten male subjects were asked to run at 3.5 m/s on a treadmill mounted on force plates, where we calculated lower extremity loading variables. We also measured their anthropometric features mainly from lower extremities. There were no significant correlations between the anthropometric features and the average and instantaneous vertical loading rate. However, we found that vertical impact peak was predictable from the foot breadth normalized to the leg length, using both stepwise linear regression and multiple linear regression analysis. The results of the present study suggests that vertical impact peak was depends on anthropometric variables.
