Contribution of angular motion and gravity to tibial acceleration

Abstract

A bone-mounted accelerometer and high-speed cinematography were used to compare the axial tibial acceleration caused by ground impact with the total tibial axial acceleration as measured by a transducer. Due to the effects of gravity and tibial angular motion, the magnitude of the peak acceleration at foot strike was 43% below and 18% above the peak axial acceleration due to impact for running and walking, respectively. Depending on the distance of the accelerometer from the tibial center of rotation which is located at the ankle joint, different axial acceleration signals should be expected during comparable locomotor activities.