Evaluation of Harmonicity in Running Gait by the Use of Innovative Techniques of Video Analysis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to demonstrate the use of a digital video analysis method to evaluate harmonicity of running gait, through an holistic approach. Furthermore, it explores the association of running gait harmonicity with running velocity and level of training and with running injuries risk .

Detailed Description
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Aetiology of running related injuries is reported to be multifactorial but still not fully understood. Factors that impede the understanding of the mechanisms and aetiology of injury are the traditional segmental approach to the analysis of running gait and the lack of prospective studies. A more holistic approach to analysis of movement could permit a more in depth comprehension of the injured state, trough a changing of point of view. This holistic approach is based on the harmonic nature of running gait. Despite the everyday use of the term harmonicity within sporting domains, methods to measure running gait harmonicity is a theme still vaguely explored. Traditional methods evaluate the movement quality of the whole body based on the motion analysis of specific segments, that are supposed to sufficiently represent the entire body. The search for a method to analyse harmonicity of cyclic movements with a real holistic approach, is therefore still open. With these aims, an innovative video analysis method has been proposed, based on the measure of the frequency variation of the pixel brightness in the digital video of a cyclic movement.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Harmonicity in Running Gait by the Use of Innovative Techniques of Video Analysis: Effects on Metabolic Consumption and Running Injuries Risk

Conditions
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Injuries

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Maximal incremental running test
* Diagnostic Test: Metabolic and movement analysis of running
* Other: Questionnaires


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least one year of running practice minimum two day of running/week minimum 20 km running/week seasonal best on half marathon comprised between 1h20' and 2h00' experienced in treadmill running practice sport medical certificate Exclusion Criteria: have suffered in the last three months of musculoskeletal disease regular practice of sport activities different from running acute or chronic osteoarticular diseases or, in general, other pathology limiting physical activities use of drugs altering physical activity performance (hypnotic, psychoactive, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e.g.).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| recreational runners<br>Recreational runners (minimum of 2 running session and 20km of total mileage per week), with seasonal best on half-marathon comprised between 1h20' and 2h00'. Age > 18 and < 60 years. Free from musculoskeletal injuries from at least three months. | Diagnostic Test: Maximal incremental running test<br>* Maximal incremental running test with measures of metabolic, spatio-temporal parameters and video recording with camera in the frontal plane. video recording of frontal view, metabolic and spatio-temporal measures of three (self-selected speed, + and - 20 percentage of self-selected speed) 6 minutes running test monthly (12 months) follow-up questionnaire<br>Diagnostic Test: Metabolic and movement analysis of running<br>* Running analysis of three six minutes running test (self-selected speed, + and - 20% of the self-selected speed) by video recording with camera in the frontal plane, and acquisition of the metabolic and spatio-temporal parameters<br>Other: Questionnaires<br>* Monthly follow-up questionnaire (12 months) about training habits and injuries<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Correlation between running related injuries (RRI) and running gait harmonicity | Verify if RRI risk is correlated with measures of harmonicity derived from Graal software (registered during three six minutes running test at low, self-selected, high speed): • Number of pixel of the nine principal frequencies RRI are registered by follow-up questionnaires each month . | 1year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Correlation between running gait harmonicity and spatio-temporal running parameters | The association of running gait harmonicity measures with contact time, flight time, stride length and cadence will be evaluated at each running velocity. | 1 year | 
| Correlation between running gait harmonicity and metabolic parameters | The association of running gait harmonicity measures with VO2max, ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio and hearth rate. | 1 year | 
| Correlation between running related injuries (RRI) and running gait harmonicity | Verify if RRI risk is correlated with measures of harmonicity derived from Graal software (registered during three six minutes running test at low, self-selected, high speed): Signal/noise ratio (ratio between values of the principal frequencies and noise) | 1 year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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running harmonicity, running related injuries