Data_Sheet_2_Wearable Technology May Assist in Retraining Foot Strike Patterns in Previously Injured Military Service Members: A Prospective Case Series.PDF

A rearfoot strike (RFS) pattern with increased average vertical loading rates (AVLR) while running has been associated with injury. This study evaluated the ability of an instrumented sock, which provides real-time foot strike and cadence audio biofeedback, to transition previously injured military service members from a RFS to a non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) running pattern. Nineteen RFS runners (10 males, 9 females) were instructed to wear the instrumented socks to facilitate a change in foot strike while completing an independent walk-to-run progression and lower extremity exercise program. Kinetic data were collected during treadmill running while foot strike was determined using video analysis at initial (T1), post-intervention (T2), and follow-up (T3) data collections. Nearly all runners (18/19) transitioned to a NRFS pattern following intervention (8 ± 2.4 weeks after the initial visit). Most participants (16/18) maintained the transition at follow-up (5 ± 0.8 weeks after the post-intervention visit). AVLR of the involved and uninvolved limb decreased 29% from initial [54.7 ± 13.2 bodyweights per sec (BW/s) and 55.1 ± 12.7 BW/s] to post-intervention (38.7 ± 10.1 BW/s and 38.9 ± 10.0 BW/s), respectively. This effect persisted 5-weeks later at follow-up, representing an overall 30% reduction on the involved limb and 24% reduction on the uninvolved limb. Cadence increased from the initial to the post-intervention time-point (p = 0.045); however, this effect did not persist at follow-up (p = 0.08). With technology provided feedback from instrumented socks, approximately 90% of participants transitioned to a NRFS pattern, decreased AVLR, reduced stance time and maintained these running adaptations 5-weeks later.

跑步时伴随平均垂直加载率（average vertical loading rates, AVLR）升高的后足着地（rearfoot strike, RFS）模式与运动损伤相关。本研究评估了一款可实时提供足着地方式与步频听觉生物反馈的智能传感袜（instrumented sock），能否帮助既往有运动损伤史的现役军人将跑步足着地模式从后足着地（RFS）转换为非后足着地（non-rearfoot strike, NRFS）。本研究纳入19名采用RFS模式的跑者（男性10名，女性9名），要求受试者穿戴该智能传感袜，在完成独立走跑过渡训练与下肢训练计划的过程中，辅助其改变足着地方式。在基线（T1）、干预后（T2）及随访（T3）三个数据采集节点，通过视频分析确定足着地方式的同时，采集跑步机跑步过程中的动力学数据。干预后（距首次访视8±2.4周），几乎所有受试者（18/19）均转换为NRFS跑步模式。多数受试者（16/18）在随访时（距干预后访视5±0.8周）仍维持了该足着地模式转换。患侧与健侧肢体的平均垂直加载率分别从基线时的[54.7±13.2 体重每秒（BW/s）与55.1±12.7 BW/s]下降至干预后（38.7±10.1 BW/s与38.9±10.0 BW/s），降幅分别达29%。该效应在随访5周后仍持续存在，患侧肢体整体降幅达30%，健侧肢体降幅达24%。步频从基线至干预后时间点显著升高（p=0.045），但该效应在随访时未维持（p=0.08）。借助智能传感袜提供的反馈，约90%的受试者成功转换为NRFS跑步模式，降低了平均垂直加载率，缩短了支撑时间，并在5周后的随访中维持了上述跑步适应性改变。