Comparison of kinematics of the lower limb between the sexes in middle-aged runners

Abstract

The pursuit for a healthy lifestyle has brought more persons to sports practice. Moreover, the increase in life expectancy of the population and the benefits that physical activity brings to health resulted in an increase in the number of middle-aged individuals who practice running. However, studies have indicated that the incidence of injury is greater in the middle-aged than in young people. This higher incidence of injury may be partly due to changes in the kinematics of running. Another important aspect is the difference between the sexes. Studies shows that women who run are twice as likely to some injury when compared to men. However, these studies evaluated only young adults. Thus, little is known about the differences related to risk of injury among middle-aged runners in both sexes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the kinematics of the hip, knee and ankle in middle-aged runners, men and women. Twenty volunteers will be separated into 2 groups, 10 male runners between 36 and 60 years old in group 1 and group 2, 10 females runners between 36 and 60 years old. The kinematic evaluation will be taken during a treadmill running. Kinematic data collection and analysis will be performed using Qualisys Motion Capture System (Qualisys Medical AB, Sweden). The dependent variables will be the angle of flexion/extension, adduction/abduction and medial/lateral of the hip, the angle of flexion/extension, adduction /abduction and medial/lateral rotation of the knee and the angle of plantar flexion/dorsiflexion and eversion/rotation inversion of the ankle at initial contact and the peak of these angles during the stance phase. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used in the comparison between the two groups, considering the running speed as covariate. For the analyzes, it will be adopted a significance level of 0.05. (AU)