Is Running Better than Walking for Reducing Hip Joint Loads?

Abstract

Purpose Knowledge of hip biomechanics during locomotion is necessary for designing optimal rehabilitation programs for hip-related conditions. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine how lower-limb muscle contributions to the hip contact force (HCF) differed between walking and running; and 2) compare both absolute and per-unit-distance (PUD) loads at the hip during walking and running. Methods Kinematic and ground reaction force data were captured from eight healthy participants during overground walking and running at various steady-state speeds (walking: 1.50 ± 0.11 m·s -1 and 1.98 ± 0.03 m·s -1; running: 2.15 ± 0.18 m·s -1 and 3.47 ± 0.11 m·s -1). A three-dimensional musculoskelet..