Limited Short-Term Reliability of Key Joint Angles in Biomechanical Running Gait Analyses

Abstract

Background: Video-based biomechanical running gait analysis is widely used to optimise technique, guide footwear selection, and identify orthopaedic risk factors. Despite the increasing availability of such assessments, it is often assumed—without strong empirical support—that key kinematic parameters of running gait remain stable over short periods of time. This study aimed to examine the short-term stability of key joint angles during running using a standard 2D video-based kinematic analysis. Specifically, it was investigated whether these angles change within the first 4 min of treadmill running under three defined conditions: barefoot at 12 km h−1, shoed at 12 km h−1, and shoed at 14 km h−1, in a homogeneous sample of twelve young, trained, male recreational soccer players. Methods: Participants completed three four-minute runs. Joint angles were quantified manually from 2D video recordings. Temporal variation was analysed using repeated-measures statistics, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and minimal detectable changes (MDCs). Results: Six out of nine joint angles showed statistically significant temporal changes, mainly in hip extension, knee flexion, the Duchenne angle, the Trendelenburg angle, the leg axis angle, and heel-bottom angle. Lower leg angle and Achilles tendon angle remained stable. ICCs showed moderate to excellent agreement, indicating high within-session consistency across all angles. Discussion: Under the applied study protocol, significant short-term variations were observable in several joint angles during the first four minutes of running. These findings highlight the importance of analysing multiple strides and considering measurement uncertainty when interpreting short-duration running kinematics.