Variable definitions

Calculation of joint angles

All joint angles that are displayed in the report are based on a series of rotations (Grood & Suntay, 1983). These are described with Euler angles, which are the means to describe the orientation of one coordinate system relative to another. The sequence flexion/extension, adduction/abduction, internal/external rotation (Cole, Nigg, Ronsky, & Yeadon, 1993) is used in all cases for the purposes of the running report. This means that the flexion/extension axis is based on the segment coordinate system of the proximal segment, the adduction/abduction axis is a ‘floating’ axis, and the internal/external rotation axis is based on the distal segment.

The pelvis angle is a special case as it is reported relative to a virtual lab coordinate system, but the sequence is identical to that used for the relative joint angles.

For all global measurements, the coordinate system is typically aligned as shown below:

Alternatively, the running direction can be the -X, +/-Y direction if "Auto detection" is selected for the Running direction (see Step 5 of data collection process).

In addition to the global coordinate system, the virtual lab coordinate system is defined with its y-axis pointing in the running direction and the x-axis to the right of the runner:

Calculation of specific angle and position time-series

Sagittal plane
Display name Variable name Definition Left Definition Right Sign convention
Vertical Excursion Vertical Excursion (METRIC::PROCESSED::Left Vertical Max_MEAN-METRIC::PROCESSED::Left Vertical Min_MEAN)*100, where Vertical Min/Max is the min/max vertical Pelvis COG position (METRIC::PROCESSED::Right Vertical Max_MEAN-METRIC::PROCESSED::Right Vertical Min_MEAN)*100, where Vertical Min/Max is the min/max vertical Pelvis COG position

+ Up

- Down

Foot Angle at Initial Contact Virtual Foot Angles_IC Left Foot Progression Angles at left IC event, X-component Right Foot Progression Angles at right IC event, X-component

+ Toe strike

- Heel strike

Hip Extension at Toe Off Hip Angles_X_TO Left Hip Angles at left TO event, x-component Right Hip Angles at right TO event, x-component

+ Flexion

- Extension

Pelvis Tilt at Midstance Pelvic Tilt Excursion Left Pelvic Angles_maxX_MEAN- Left Pelvic Angles_IC_MEAN::X Right Pelvic Angles_maxX_MEAN- Right Pelvic Angles_IC_MEAN::X

+ Pelvis rotates in anterior direction

- Pelvis rotates in posterior direction

Peak Knee Flexion Knee Angle_MaxX_Stance Maximum Left Knee Angle, x-component, between left IC and TO events Maximum Right Knee Angle, x-component, between right IC and TO events

+ Extension

- Flexion

Knee Flexion at Initial Contact Knee Angle_IC Left Knee Angle, x-component, at left IC event Right Knee Angle, x-component, at right IC event

+ Extension

- Flexion

Knee Excursion Knee Flexion Excursion Left Knee Angle_MaxX_Stance_MEAN- Left Knee Angle_MinX_Stance_MEAN Right Knee Angle_MaxX_Stance_MEAN::X-Right Knee Angle_MinX_Stance_MEAN::X

+ Extension

- Flexion

Strike Position Strike Position_IC LSTRIKEPOS at left IC event, x-component, where LSTRIKEPOS is L_FCC2-L_ICT marker position RSTRIKEPOS at right IC event, x-component, where RSTRIKEPOS is R_FCC2-R_ICT marker position

+ L_FCC in front of L_ICT

- L_FCC behind L_ICT

Frontal plane
Display name Variable name Definition Left Definition Right Sign convention
Knee Separation Knee Separation (vLKJC::Y- vRKJC::Y)*100 at left MS event where vLKJC and vRKJC are landmarks at the knee joint centre using the global reference system. (vLKJC::Y- vRKJC::Y)*100 at right MS event where vLKJC and vRKJC are landmarks at the knee joint centre using the global reference system.

+ Increasing distance of knees

- Decreasing distance of knees

Cross Over Crossover_MS Pelvis_COG::X- LHEEL_WRT_VIRTUAL_LAB::X)*100 at left MS event, where both variables are using the virtual lab coordinate system Pelvis_COG::X- RHEEL_WRT_VIRTUAL_LAB::X)*100 at right MS event, where both variables are using the virtual lab coordinate system

+ Increasing distance of heel from midline

- Decreasing distance of heel from midline

Inversion at Initial Contact Rearfoot Angle_IC Left Virtual Foot Angles at left IC event, y-component Right Virtual Foot Angles at right IC event, y-component

+ Inversion

- Eversion

Peak Eversion Ankle Angles_MinY Minimum Left Virtual Foot Angle between left IC and TO event, y-component Minimum Right Virtual Foot Angle between right IC and TO event, y-component

+ Inversion

- Eversion

Rearfoot Eversion Excursion Rearfoot Excursion (Left Rearfoot Angle_IC_MEAN::Y- Left Ankle Angles_MinY_MEAN)*-1 (Right Rearfoot Angle_IC_MEAN::Y- Right Ankle Angles_MinY_MEAN)*-1

+ Inversion

- Eversion

Knee Valgus Knee Angle_MaxY Left Knee Angle, maximum between left IC and TO, y-component Right Knee Angle, maximum between right IC and TO, y-component

+ Valgus

- Varus

Pelvic Drop Pelvic Drop Left Pelvic Angles_IC_MEAN::Y- Left Pelvis_MinY_MEAN::X, so the range between pelvic angle Y at IC and the minimum pelvic angle Y before TO Right Pelvic Angles_IC_MEAN::Y- Right Pelvis_MinY_MEAN::X, so the range between pelvic angle Y at IC and the minimum pelvic angle Y before TO

+ Opposite hip drops

- Opposite hip rises

Hip Adduction Hip Angle_MaxY Left Hip Angle. Y-component, maximum between left IC and TO events Right Hip Angle. Y-component, maximum between right IC and TO events

+ Adduction

- Abduction

Transverse plane
Display name Variable name Definition Left Definition Right Sign convention
Femur vs Foot at Midstance Foot wrt Femur_MS Left Foot wrt Femur at left MS event, z-component, where Left Foot wrt Femur is Left Foot Progression Angles-Left Hip Angle Right Foot wrt Femur at right MS event, z-component, where Right Foot wrt Femur is Right Foot Progression Angles-Right Hip Angle

+ Inward rotation

- Outward rotation

Toe Out at Midstance Toe Out_MS Left Foot Progression Angles at left MS event, z-component Right Foot Progression Angles at right MS event, z-component

+ Toe in

- Toe out

Tibial Internal Rotation at Midstance Tibial Rotation_MS Left Tibial Rotation at left MS event, z-component, where Left Tibial Rotation is the angle between virtual foot and virtual lab. Right Tibial Rotation at right MS event, z-component, where Left Tibial Rotation is the angle between virtual foot and virtual lab.

+ Internal rotation

- External rotation

Peak Knee Internal Rotation Knee Angle_MaxZ_Stance Left Knee Angle maximum between left IC and TO events, z-component Right Knee Angle maximum between right IC and TO events, z-component

+ External rotation

- Internal rotation

Hip External rotation at Toe-Off Hip Angles_Z_TO Left Hip Angles at left TO event, z-component Right Hip Angles at right TO event, z-component

+ Internal rotation

- External rotation

Hip Internal Rotation at Midstance Hip Angles_MS Left Hip Angle at left MS event, z-component Right Hip Angle at right MS event, z-component

+ Internal rotation

- External rotation

Hip External Rotation at Initial Contact Hip Angles_IC Left Hip Angle at left IC event, z-component Right Hip Angle at right IC event, z-component

+ Internal rotation

- External rotation