The supposed benefits of barefoot running are an often debated topic, with many studies investigating footwear influences on the kinematics and kinetics of running. Few studies, however, have analysed the effect on joint contact forces (JCFs). In this study, we investigated the influence of different footwear on the JCFs of the hip, knee, and ankle during running using a 3D musculoskeletal model.

Kinematics were recorded from 16 volunteers while running on a treadmill at two speeds (2.0 m/s and 2.5 m/s) either barefoot (BF), wearing minimal shoes (MM), or normal shoes (NS). Alongside the JCFs, stride parameters and joint angles were examined using a generalised linear mixed model.

Results showed a decrease in the hip JCF from BF to MM to NS, no consistent changes in the knee and an increase from BF to MM to NS at the ankle. However, these changes mostly had small effect sizes, so it’s unclear how relevant they are. The individual responses were much larger and showed opposite effects, indicating that the effects of footwear are highly individual and probably depend on the running style and characteristics of each runner.

This project is already puplished as an article in Scientific reports.

Project Leader: Lena Kloock & Andrea Arensmann

Animals display rich and coordinated motor patterns during walking and running. Previous modeling and experimental results suggest that the balance between excitation and inhibition in neural networks may be critical for generating such structured motor patterns. However, biological neural networks have an anatomical imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neural populations.

In this study, we explore the influence of such an anatomical imbalance on the ability of a reservoir computing artificial neural network to learn human locomotor patterns for slow walking, fast walking, and running.

Preliminary findings suggest that motor pattern generation may be robust to increased inhibition but not increased excitation in neural networks.

Project Leader: Myriam de Graaf

Sprinting

The aim of this project is to explore lower extremity joint contact forces during sprint running and use this information to improve training control and target injury prevention. Therefore, experienced sprinters were investigated with the use of most current technologies.

Some puplications were already done in this project: contact forces during curve-line sprinting and super spikes vs normal spikes 

Project Leader: Meike Gerlach

Joint contact forces during walking and running with insoles in pronated foot type

Running is a complex movement involving important functions such as cushioning and acceleration, which are performed by the foot. However, misalignment of the foot can disrupt this process. Consequently, the foot is unable to perform its physiological tasks fully, which can lead to overload. One such misalignment is overpronation, which places greater demands on the neuromuscular system and increases muscle activity in the hip, knee and ankle. Therefore, a change in foot function during running due to misalignment can impact all joints in the lower limbs and the back.

In practice, insoles or orthotics are often prescribed to correct misalignments. While various studies have shown that insoles can alter foot kinematics, this does not always have a noticeable effect on joints closer to the centre of the body. Additionally, studies produce inconsistent results regarding the stress placed on structures by external forces. However, any changes within the joints usually go unnoticed.

Therefore, this project aims to determine and compare the effects of classic pronation support and bionic 3D-printed insoles on joint contact forces.

Project Leader: Andrea Arensmann

Calculation of metabolic cost from kinematic data and the influence of titin

When interested in the metabolic cost of certain activities, researchers normally have to conduct spirometric measurement. These always need to be measured over several minutes, while the person is already in steady-state, and only give the metabolic costs of the full body.  However, it is also interesting to investigate the metabolic cost of individual, for instance for sports or rehabilitation purposes. For that, models have been developed that approximate the metabolic cost of individual muscles using input parameters like muscle activation, maximum force, current force, fiber type, and more. These parameters can mostly be obtained via inverse dynamics calculations from kinematic measurements. However, those are validated for simple human models with only few muscles.

The aim of this project is, therefore, to combine the calculation methods of these various models so we can implement and validate them in the musculoskeletal model of the CMS, which includes a far greater number of muscles.

A different part of this project is to add the muscles macro-molecule titin into our musclular-skeletal model to investigate how the calculated metabolic costs changes during eccentric contractions when including this new element.

Project Leader: Lena Kloock

Lifting

Although lifting with a straight back and bent knees is widely recommended to prevent lower back pain, scientific evidence supporting this advice remains inconclusive.
This project aims to provide biomechanical insight by systematically analyzing joint loading during lifting tasks. Using an inverse dynamics approach, we vary parameters such as lifting technique, speed, load, and object position to examine how different strategies influence joint loading throughout the body. The findings aim to support the development of evidence-based guidelines for safer lifting practices in occupational and clinical settings.

Project Leader: André Schwarze