Running requires greater balance, muscle strength, and joint range of motion compared to walking. During running, the ground reaction forces and center of pressure increase to 250% of body weight, double that of walking. The gait cycle of running consists of stance and swing phases. Key differences from walking include less time in contact with the ground, greater joint motion, and more eccentric muscle work. Running utilizes a float period where both feet are off the ground, distinguishing it from walking. Proper running form involves dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle, as well as flexion and extension of the hip and knee, to efficiently absorb impact and propel the body forward.

1. Kinetic & Kinematics
Of Running
Dr. Nigam Prasad Dash
MPT

2. • Running is similar to walking in terms of locomotor activity.
• Running requires :
1. Greater balance – double float period
2. Muscle strength – elevation of HAT
3. Joint ROM - absorb increased energy to control weight
• During running gait cycle, the GRF & COP increase to 250 % of body
weight (Double that of Walking).

3. Difference betn Running & Walking
• Time & ground contact pattern.
• Greater joint motion & eccentric muscle work.
• Double & single limb support (period of double limb float).
• < 40% of stance & > 60% swing (vice versa)
• Running – speed Stance time Swing time
• For Running – 1st increase in step length 2nd step rate.

4. Float period (phase)
• Biomechanical feature which
distinguishes running from walking.
• Time spends in float LEADS TO
increase in running speed.
• This phase starts from ipsilateral toe
off.
• For this in running stance phase equates
40% & swing phase 60%.

5. Gait Cycle Of Running
• Gait cycle begins when one foot comes in contact with the ground and
ends when the same foot contacts the ground again.
• 2 phases – Stance & Swing phase
Initial swing
Loading(heel strike to foot flat) Terminal swing
Mid stance (foot flat to heel off) (forward descent)
Propulsion(heel off to toe off)

7. Loading(heel strike to foot flat)
• Progression towards heel strike
Foot supinated with slight inversion(0-5*)
Pelvis ant tilt & internal rot(10*)
Hip external rot(10*) & flexed(20-30*)
Knee flex (10*)
• Due to lateral directed GRF,Cascade of event (foot eversion, hip
internal rot & adduction,knee flexion(45*))
• This help GRF pass post to the knee joint.
• These all done by gluteus eccentric contraction for dissipate of GRF.

8. • Rear foot eversion gives more alignment to mid tarsal joints (unlocking).
• This mechanism allows the forefoot to make solid contact with ground at
foot flat.

9. Midstace (foot flat to heel off)
• Fore foot making contact with ground.
• Biomechanical function involves shock absorption following loading to prepare for
propulsion.
• During this time ankle moves towards maximal dorsi flexion(20*).
• Same time hip & knee moving from flexion towards extension for assisting
forward motion body COM.
Max foot pronation followed by ankle dorsi flexion should reach, rear foot eversion(
10*)& fore foot abduction (5*) as the COM passed ant to the stance limb.

10. Propulsion(heel off to toe off)
• Following heel off foot continues to supinate & plantar flexed.
rear foot invertion
transverse tarsal joint converge
mid foot locked (creats rigid lever)
• Then stance limb goes for externally rotation & excessive extention & knee
flexion.(hamstring contraction)
• Acceleration of stance limb starts by maintaining same rigid liver i.e by
(contraction of gastrocnemius, soleous, tibialis post & foot intrinsic)

11. • Windlass mechanism helps in giving passive rigidity to foot.

12. Initial Swing
• After toe off the body thrust into the 1st FLOAT phase. (rectus femoris &
iliopsoas contracts for forward momentum of swing limb)
• Then preparation for terminal swing starts by (tibialis ant, hip adductors
eccentrically)
• At this time swing side relies on contralateral gluteal musculature to
dissipate the GRF produced by this event & prevent pelvic dropping in
swing side.

13. Terminal swing
• Following contralateral toe off the body is thrust into the 2nd FLOAT
phase.
• During this time swing hip reaches maximal flexion (30*) (before coming
under control of hams & gluts)
• Same hams activity slows the rapid extension of knee for preparation of
heel strike & hip adductors control eccentrically to control abduction.
• Then adductors acts concentrically to bring hip towards midline.

14. Kinematics Of Running
Sagittal plane:-
• in this plane running exhibit out pelvic tilt & thigh angle.
• At initial contact - hip flexes 20-45* after which it goes for extension till
toe off.
• At terminal swing hip flexion decreases that lead to reduction of velocity of the
foot relative to the ground.
• In runners pelvic motion is minimized. (to conserve energy & efficiency)

15. • Increase of lumber lordosis. (from mid stance to toe off & from mid swing to
terminal swing)
Because
limitation of hip extensor mobility may place lumber spine in compromised
position of excessive lordosis & also strain on hamstring muscle.(back pain)

16. • At initial contact knee flexes 15-25*.
at mid stance knee flexes 45*.
at propulsion phase knee extends of 25*.
but in swing phase knee reaches beyond 90* of flexion.
• At initial contact ankle in neutral.
at midstance 20* of dorsiflexion as leg is loded.
at toe off 15-35* of plantar flexion & that continues till preparation of heel
strike.

17. • At initial contact foot goes for supination followed by calcaneous invertion 4*.
• as the progression occurs subtalar joints pronates followed by hind foot
eversion & tibial internal rotation. (during 1st 20% of stance phase)

18. Frontal Plane:-
• In this plane hip is adducted 6-12* with respect to pelvis from initial contact to
midstance.
• Then from mid stance to mid swing hip abducts 6* to forward progression of
body & clearance of swing leg.
• In terminal swing hip returns to adduction for for preparation of initial contact.

19. Transverse plane:-
• Movement pattern in this plane imp for energy efficiency.
• At initial contact – pelvis exhibit 8* of forward rotation.
hip external rotation of 10* (mid stance)
then internal rot to neutral (toe off)
• Foot shows max external rotation in midswing of 15*.

20. Kinetics Of Running
• Ankle, knee, hip power patterns are similar in running to those of walking,
only the velocity influences the amplitude.
• When forward speed of runner increases, the peak GRF and rate of loading
increases.
• During running sharp GRF at initial contact resulting in an impact peak.
(depends on foot strike pattern)
• After initial peak GRF reaches 2.2 to 2.6 times of body weight in runners.
• During mid stance GRFs are highest on body.

21. • Anteroposterior GRF can alter through strike style(fore foot & heel),
cadence & running surface(downhill & uphill).

22. THANK YOU…