Influence of running speed, inclination, and fatigue on calcaneus angle in female runners

Verdel, Nina (author), Nograšek, Neža (author), Drobnič, Miha (author), Papuga, Irinej (author), Strojnik, Vojko (author), Supej, Matej (author)

Running is a popular form of physical activity with significant health benefits, but improper technique can lead to running-related injuries. This study investigates the influence of running speed, incline, and fatigue on calcaneus eversion/inversion angle at heel strike, maximum eversion angle, and range of motion, factors associated with lower limb injuries. Fifteen injury-free female runners participated in this study. Kinematic data were collected using a 3D motion capture system with reflective markers placed directly on the skin through specially modified running shoes. The runners performed treadmill trials at varying speeds (10, 12, and 14 km/h) and inclines (0°, 5°, and 10°), both before and after a fatigue-inducing 30-min run. The results indicate that higher speeds were associated with an increase in inversion angle at heel strike (p = 0.05) and range of motion (p = 0.02 before fatigue), both of which are linked to chronic ankle instability and Achilles tendinopathy. Running at an incline reduced both maximum eversion angle (p = 0.002 after fatigue) and range of motion (p = 0.003 after fatigue), suggesting a protective effect against excessive eversion. Fatigue increased range of motion (p = 0.05), which is a risk factor for instability and overuse injuries. These findings suggest that running at higher speeds and in a fatigued state may increase the likelihood of injuries due to increased range of motion, whereas incline running may mitigate this risk by reducing excessive eversion and range of motion. Understanding these biomechanical changes can inform injury prevention strategies for runners.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sport, biomechanics, eversion, inversion, injury prevention, running related injury, 3D kinematics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, art. 1505263
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179880
• UDC: 796.01
• ISSN on article: 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1505263
• COBISS.SI-ID: 233043203
• Publication date in RUL: 26.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in physiology
• Shortened title: Front. physiol.
• Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
• ISSN: 1664-042X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1218939

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: šport, biomehanika, everzija, inverzija, preprečevanje poškodb, s tekom povezane poškodbe, 3D kinematika

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0147
• Name: Kineziologija monostrukturnih, polistrukturnih in konvencionalnih športov

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J5-3115
• Name: AiCoachU - vadba z umetno inteligenco