RunOrtho
For a better insight into running-related injuries, biomechanics and treatment modalities to support the running community.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Health Professions
- Institute(s) Physiotherapy
- Research unit(s) Fussbiomechanik und Technologie
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration (planned) 01.11.2022 - 31.12.2025
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Patric Eichelberger
- Partner Ortho-Team AG
- Keywords physiotherapy, foot orthoses, foot function, running-related injury, lower extremity, prevention, rehabilitation
Situation
Through its evolutional anchor in human movement and its superior accessibility, running is worldwide one of the most established physical activities, has evident benefits on health and may be the most cost-effective medicine from a public health perspective. However, there are burdens due to relatively high and repetitive loading of musculoskeletal structures, leading to a higher risk of overuse injuries compared with other forms of aerobic exercise. The etiology of running-related injury (RRIs) is complex and multifactorial and injury rates remained equally high over the last decades, irrespective of many research efforts. Better understanding of injury mechanisms and prevention is still a research priority. There is weak evidence for the widely established management of RRI through custom foot orthoses and physical therapy, which needs further investigation.
Course of action
The project aims to establish knowledge about the current state of the art in the design of custom foot orthoses based on current practice of the research partners. A framework will be developed to collect and merge foot orthosis production data, running and physical activity from wearable technology to quantify training loads, subjective health status data and running biomechanics (2D video, plantar pressure). RRI diagnosis and biomechanical variables will be examined with respect to their ability to predict design features (e.g. retrocapical, lateral or medial supports) of custom foot orthoses. This will help to answer the question what degree custom foot orthoses design is really driven by biomechanical and injury status.
Looking ahead
We expect indications about the current and future design process of custom foot orthoses in running. The project will substantially contribute to the knowledge about how foot orthoses are currently customized. The activities carried out under this research initiative will foster the scientific exchange among the involved orthopedic specialists, orthopedic technicians and physical therapists and it will serve to translate current clinical practice from experience-based to more evidence-based.
