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Clinical Research
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The CLEAR Cleat: A Preliminary Kinematic Analysis of Hip and Knee Angular Joint Displacement During Recumbent Cycling First Author: Erin Klein Authors: Erin E. Klein MS Catherine A. Feuerstein BS Ryan T. Crews MS James Wrobel DPM, MS Stephanie Wu DPM, MS DG Armstrong DPM, PhD Previous research has suggested that the CLEAR cleat is effective as a device that allows lower limb exercise while off-loading the forefoot. This project investigated the potential kinematic compensations occurring at the hip and knee associated with CLEAR Cleat use during recumbent cycling exercise. Six healthy subjects (3 male, 3 female) were digitally recorded in the sagittal plane while riding a recumbent bicycle during three seven-minute trials. The left foot utilized a gym shoe in all conditions while the right foot utilized three pedal interfaces: a) regular gym shoe (C); b) gym shoe with CLEAR Cleat (GS) and c) off-loading insole with CLEAR Cleat (OIC). While cycling, each subject wore reflective markers allowing digital reconstruction of joint segments and calculation of sagittal plane joint angles. For each trial the final five seconds of minutes 4-7 were analyzed. The angles of maximum flexion, maximum extension and total angular displacement at the hip and knee were analyzed. Results indicate that CLEAR cleat use causes an ipsilateral increase in maximal knee (2.64±0.9°) and hip (1.66±1.19°) extension with a contralateral decrease in maximal knee (7.30±0.73°) extension. These differences may have occurred because the CLEAR cleat prohibited right ankle plantarflexion during the pedal stroke thereby causing a functional shortening of the right side with relative contralateral lengthening. Angular changes attempted to compensate for this artifical leg length discrepancy. Although these results were found to be statistically significant, clinical significance has yet to be assessed and will be included in our further analysis of this data. |
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