Comparisons of Gait Variability and Symmetry in Healthy Runners, Runners with a History of Lower Limb Injuries, and Runners with a Current Lower Limb Injury

Background: Running is a cyclic movement requiring bilateral symmetry between the lower limbs to reduce injury risk. The assessment of side-to-side differences often performed detect functional deficits. Objectives: purpose was study using clinical and running performance assessments in healthy runners (HR), with history limb injuries (RHI), current (RLI). Methods: Forty-three were recruited, 14 participants being allocated HR group, 13 RHI 16 RLI group. Peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF), midfoot pressure, foot rotation, gait variability recorded Zebris FDM-T treadmill analysis system. Participants also assessed navicular drop test. Dependent t-tests used determine if any existed within each One-way ANOVAs then investigate three groups. Results: Significant seen height both (P = 0.02) 0.009) groups, rotation greatest group (~34%) compared (~30.5%) (~24%) lateral center pressure (37.1 mm) (28.9 (22.2 Conclusions: Variability butterfly diagram may help identify at greater risk injury. Side-to-side should be expected progressively decrease from injured stage, through recovery return sport phases. Target goals less than 34% difference for 37.1 mm decision-making process when considering practice.