Treadmills are often used in research to analyse kinematic and physiological variables.
The success of transfering the results to overground running depends on the comparability
of the values between the two situations. The aim of the present study was to compare
the kinematics and muscle activities in overground and treadmill running. Ten male
physical education students with experience in treadmill running were asked to run
with a speed of 4.0 and 6.0 m/s both overground and on a Woodway treadmill. The 3D-kinematics
of the limbs were studied using a two camera video tracking system. Additionally the
surface EMC of six lower limb muscles and the pattern of ground contact of the right
foot was registered. Both the activities of the leg muscles and several kinematic
variables showed systematic changes from overground to treadmill running. On the treadmill
the subjects favoured a type of running that provided them with a higher level of
security. The swing amplitude of the leg, the vertical displacement and the variance
in vertical and horizontal velocity were lower in treadmill running. The angle between
shoe sole and ground at foot impact was also lower and the forward lean of the upper
body was higher in running on the treadmill compared with the overground mode. Most
of the subjects reduced their step length and increased stride frequency in treadmill
running. Furthermore, the contact time in treadmill running was shorter than for overground
running. The above mentioned kinematic variables were significantly different (p <
0.05). The EMC patterns of the leg muscles were generally similar between overground
and treadmill modes, but some minor differences could consistently be identified.
Biomechanics - EMC - kinematics - muscle activity - running - treadmill
