Current Studies

Studies Currently Seeking Subjects

1. Biomechanical Factors Associated with the Etiology of Stress Fractures in Runners

Investigating lower extremity running injuries in women over a two-year period.

400+ total women runners will be investigated (200 at UD & 200 at U. of Massachusetts, Amherst).

Women runners with a minimum of 20 miles per week and between the ages of 18-30.

Data collection involves:

	Biomechanical Analysis (1 hour)
	Lower Quarter Examination by Dr. Davis (30 minutes)
	X-rays of the lower leg (30 minutes)
	Online Monthly Injury Updates (2 years)

Women runners are compensated $50.00 for participation in the study.

Contact Brian Noehren for more information.

Download Running Injury Flyer

Download RUNNING INJURY RESULTS from abstracts and manuscripts:

Dynamic Symmetry in Female Runners With a History of Tibial Stress Fractures (ASB/ISB 2005)

Intralimb Coordination in Female Runners With Tibial Stress Fractures (ASB/ISB 2005)

Kinetic Asymmetry in Left and Right Dominant Female Runners: Implications for Injury (ASB/ISB 2005)

Kinetic Asymmetry in Female Runners With and Without Retrospective Tibial Stress Fractures (ACSM 2005)

Does Sustaining A Lower Extremity Stress Factor Alter Running Mechanics (ASB 2004)

Prospective Study Of Factors Associated With Plantar Fasciitis (ASB 2004)

Lower Extremity Joint Coupling In Runners Who Developed Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (ASB 2004)

Lower Extremity Joint Coupling And Patellofemoral Pain During Running (ACSM 2004)

Does Increased Loading Lead To Tibial Stress Fractures (ACSM 2004)

Is The Free Moment Related To Tibial Stress Fractures (ACSM 2004)

Lower Extremity Mechanics In Patients With Patellofemoral Joint Pain: A Prospective Study (ASB 2003)

Prospective Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band) (ACSM 2003)

Rearfoot Mechanics In Runners With Previous Plantar Fasciitis (ISB 2003)

Kinetic Variables In Runners With Previous Stress Fractures (ACSM 2002)

Structural Characteristics In Runners With And Without Stress Fractures (ACSM 2002)

Variables Associated With The Incidence of Stress Fractures (World Congress/ASB 2002)

Multiple Stress Fractures In A Cross Country Runner: A Case Study (CSM 2001)

2. Runners With High Tibial Shock

The purpose of this study is to screen healthy, recreational runners to identify those runners that exhibit high values of tibial shock.

	Tibial shock is an indicator of how hard the foot hits the ground during running.
	High tibial shock values may increase the risk of sustaining a running injury.

Runners that are determined to have high tibial shock values may be recruited for a study that will be aimed at training the runner to reduce tibial shock during running.

Runners must be between the ages of 18 and 45, must be running a minimum of 10 miles per week, and be free of any leg injuries.

Tibial shock will be screened on both legs during the visit.

Total time for the data collection is approximately 60 minutes.

Contact: Philip Crowell

Download Tibial Shock flyer

3. Gait Retraining

The purpose of this study is to identify running mechanics that are related to running injuries, and then improve injured peoples' running mechanics in hopes of running injury free.

To improve running mechanics, subjects participate in a Gait Retraining program:

Initial Analysis: Subjects are evaluated for their running injury(s).

	A lower quarter exam is given.
	Subjects are video taped running on a treadmill with their running style that led to injury.
	A biomechanical analysis is performed on the injured running style.
	Hypotheses are generated as to how to change running mechanics.

6 Week Training Program: Attempt to alter subject's mechanics.

	Subjects run on a treadmill while the Vicon Real-Time motion analysis gives continuous feedback as to segment angles.
	Subjects must keep specified angles below or above a given threshold.

Post Training: 6 month follow-up.

Biomechanical analysis.

6 subjects have completed the program thus far.

Contact: Dr. Irene Davis

4. Biomechanics of Females With and Without Anterior Knee Pain

Active females from 18-35 years old are needed.

Data collection involves:

	Assessment of muscle strength
	Assessment of lower extremity structure
	Motion analysis during running, squatting, and jumping

Compensation: $25.00

Contact: John Willson

Studies No Longer Seeking Subjects

1. Arch Structure Differences Between Genders And Among Age Groups

The 2 goals of this study are:

	1) To examine the differences in arch height and arch flexibility between males and females and across people as they age.
	2) To create a large, normalized database of arch heights from which a mean and standard deviation can be drawn to quantitatively identify high-, low-, and normal-arched feet in subsequent subjects.

It is hypothesized that with increasing age, males and females will have lower, more flexible arches and that arch height will decrease, while arch stiffness will increase.

This is an ongoing study with 145 subjects collected thus far.

Status: Processing data.

PI: Becky Zifchock

2. Interaction Between Custom and Semi-Custom Orthoses and Arch Height

The orthotic part of the Arch study compared custom made orthotics to semi-custom orthotics.

This study involved:

	1 pair of orthotics were made according to cast while a second pair of orthotics was selected according to foot size.
	An 18 day accommodation period to get used to both pairs of orthotics was used.
	After the accommodation period, a biomechanical analysis was done during running and walking for both pairs of orthotics.

Subjects were paid $50.00 and kept both pairs of orthotics, a $400 value.

Status: Processing data and developing manuscript.

PI: Becky Zifchock

3. Effects of In-Shoe Wedged Orthoses on Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis

Investigating the effects that in-shoe wedged orthoses have on lower extremity walking mechanics, pain and functional measures on subjects with medial and lateral compartment tibiofemoral osteoarthritis.

120 subjects between 40-75 years of age.

Subjects must report knee pain greater than 3/10.

Data collection involves:

	1st visit: fill out a pain scale questionnaire, perform functional tests, receive shoes and get fitted for foot orthoses (1.5 hours).
	2nd visit: fill out pain scale questionnaire again, perform functional tests again, and complete a biomechanical analysis (2 hours).
	3rd visit: fill out pain scale questionnaire again, perform functional tests again, and complete a biomechanical analysis (2 hours).

Subjects receive a free pair of New Balance 811 walking shoes, free orthoses, and are compensated up to $100.00 for participation in the study.

Status: Processing data

Download Knee Osteoarthritis Flyer

4. The Effect of Asymmetry on Injury Risk in Long Distance Runners

Investigating lower extremity injuries in runners over a 9 month period

Males and females running at least 20 miles per week are needed

Volunteers must be 18-45 years old and currently injury free

Data collection involves:

	Assessment of muscle strength
	Assessment of lower extremity structure
	Assessment of running patterns
	Monthly online injury reporting (9 months)

Compensation: $25.00

Status: Processing data

Download Asymmetry & Injury Risk flyer

This site was last updated 01/18/06