Lower Limb Kinematics of Subjects with Chronic Achilles Tendon Injury During Running

Orna A. Donoghueab*, Andrew J. Harrisona, Philip Laxtonc & Richard K. Jonesd a Biomechanics Research Unit , University of Limerick , Limerick, Ireland b Department of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom c Directorate of Podiatry , University of Salford , Salford, United Kingdom d Centre for Rehabilitation & Human Performance Research , University of Salford , Salford, United Kingdom * Department of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Edinburgh, St. Leonard's Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, United Kingdom E-mail: orna.donoghue@ed.ac.uk This study examined the kinematic differences between subjects who had a history of chronic Achilles tendon (AT) injury and matched controls during running. Eleven subjects from each group ran barefoot (BF) and shod at self-selected speeds on a treadmill. Three-dimensional angles describing rearfoot and lower limb motion were calculated throughout stance. Five footfalls were obtained for each subject and condition. Pairwise comparisons revealed greater eversion, ankle dorsiflexion and less leg abduction during stance in the AT group compared with controls. Running kinematics were exaggerated in shod compared with BF conditions, as expected from previous research. The differences between conditions were more exaggerated in AT subjects compared with control subjects. Further analysis using a curve-based approach is recommended.