Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41100028›Full record

ArticleSports medicine - open2025

Identifying Fatigue-Related Gait Patterns Using Multiple Inertial Measurement Units and Statistical Parametric Mapping: A Continuous Analysis of an Outdoor Full Marathon in Male Recreational Runners.

Guoxin Zhang, Tony Lin-Wei Chen, Yi Liu, Linjuan Wei, Shane Fei Chen, Yan Wang, Ming Zhang

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Article in Sports medicine - open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Guoxin Zhang *Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Tony Lin-Wei Chen *Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yi LiuDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Linjuan WeiDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Shane Fei ChenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yan WangDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ming ZhangDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China. ming.zhang@polyu.edu.hk.

Funding

Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee PolyU 15211322
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRunning is an effective exercise for personal fitness, yet many recreational runners suffer from running-related injuries. Prolonged running induces neuromuscular fatigue, interfering with an individual's preferred running gait and increasing the injury risk. This study aimed to examine gait patterns associated with fatigue in runners during a full marathon by analyzing lower limb segment and pelvis kinematics captured via multiple inertial measurement units (IMU).

methodsThree IMUs were attached to measure the rearfoot, shank, and pelvis kinematics of 23 male recreational runners during an outdoor marathon. Data were extracted for nine time points: the baseline, and at the 5th, 10th, 15th, up to the 40th kilometer. Each segment's free acceleration and angular velocity during the stance phase at these nine timelines were analyzed using statistical non-parametric mapping.

resultsMale recreational runners exhibited a lower running speed (1.13 km/h, p < 0.001), lengthened stance time (0.009 s, p ≤ 0.001), and prolonged stride time (0.014 s, p < 0.05) after 35 km of running, alongside a smaller anterior and superior acceleration of rearfoot and shank during the propulsion phase (p < 0.05). With increasing running mileage, the rearfoot demonstrated a gradual increase in lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase (p < 0.01). The shank exhibited a progressive decline in anterior tilt velocity during the loading response phase (p < 0.05). Additionally, the pelvis displayed significantly greater anterior acceleration during propulsion at the 40 km mark (p < 0.01).

conclusionsMale recreational runners exhibit a marked decline in performance only after 35 km. The progressive increase in rearfoot lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase, may be associated with a compensatory distal strategy to maintain balance stability. The gradual reduction in anterior tilt velocity of the shank during the loading response likely reflects a stiffness-enhancing mechanism in the lower limb to preserve locomotor efficiency under fatigue. The increased anterior acceleration of the pelvis at the 40 km mark suggests a proximal shift in propulsion mechanics due to fatigue. These findings underscore the necessity of long-distance protocols, continuous kinematic monitoring, and full stance-phase analysis to study running fatigue.

Identifiers

PMID41100028
PMCPMC12532975

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.