Second metatarsal bone stress injuries are common in runners and military recruits and often require six or more weeks away from training. The second metatarsal is typically the longest and thinnest of the forefoot bones, which may make it more susceptible to excessive loading and injury. Little is known about how modifiable external factors including running speed, load carriage, and running-induced fatigue influence internal bone stress in the metatarsal during running.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to better understand biomechanical factors that influence dynamic loading of the second metatarsal.
Project Description
The project will address the following questions:
- How do running speed and load carriage affect second metatarsal bone stress in runners?
- How does a demanding 10 km treadmill run influence second metatarsal bone stress in distance runners?
- How repeatable are bone stress measurements between trials and between laboratory visits?
Quantifying how these modifiable factors influence metatarsal loading will provide new insight into potential contributors to bone stress injury risk and help guide training strategies and injury prevention.