Development of a Forward Leaning Posture and Foot Traction Device to Support the Improvement of Running Form with Reduced Landing Impact

Abstract

One of the causes of running injury is the impact force at the time of landing. In particular, it has been reported that the risk of injury increases as the values of impact peak, which indicates the maximum impact force, and loading rate, increase. Therefore, it is important to reduce both of these values to prevent running injury. In response to this, we have developed a device to support the runner’s acquisition of skills to improve his or her ability to reduce landing impact by focusing on existing methods of preventing running injury as a clue for the development of the device. So we have developed two devices. The first is a forward leaning posture device, focusing on the fact that people naturally lean forward when they push an object or otherwise convey forward force to the body. The second is a foot traction device that delays the timing of landing by bringing the heel closer to the seat bone, thus preventing the foot from landing in front of the body. The results of a running experiment to investigate the effect of these two devices on the ground reaction force suggested that only the forward leaning posture device tended to reduce the impact force.