Joseph Hamill

University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst · Department of Kinesiology

Introduction Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common running-related injuries. Purpose The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of PF and identify potential risk or protective factors for PF in runners and non-runners. Methods Data from 1206 participants from the 4HAIE cohort study (563 females/643 males; 715 runn...

We sought to determine whether contact sport participation affects visual acuity, head control, and coordinative variability during locomotor tasks. Thirteen contact and eleven noncontact athletes completed treadmill walking tasks with and without a visual Landolt C task (identify open circle orientation). During baseline, head motion did not diffe...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between maximal internal knee adduction moment (KAM) during running and the lateral knee cartilage structure in healthy adults. 1104 participants 18-65 years old participated in this study. Biomechanics of the lower extremity during running at the individual's self-preferred speed were re...

The aim of this prospective study was to compare ankle kinematics between runners with and without plantar fasciitis (PF). We biomechanically analysed 719 runners (17 PF and 702 non-PF) using a 3-D motion capture system during overground running at their self-preferred speed. An independent t-test was performed to assess ankle kinematics during the...

The study aimed to identify potential biomechanical risk factors associated with the incidence of running overuse injuries. A total of 747 runners aged 18-65 participated in the study. Runners underwent running biomechanics at a self-selected speed. Subsequently, each runner underwent a one-year follow-up period, during which runners reported runni...

Darts has evolved from a traditional pub room game to a professional sport. More and more people worldwide are participating in the sport of dart throwing. In order to enhance throwing performance, it is important to understand the mechanics of precise dart throwing techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the fine-tune c...

This study investigates the influence of the quality of the “deep squat” movement, adapted from the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) system, on the lower extremity movement pattern during baseball throwing, and its potential impact on throwing performance and propulsion efficiency. Twenty-two baseball players were recruited and categorized into two...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular running distance and biomechanics are related to medial central femur cartilage (MCFC) structure. Methods The cross-sectional study sample consisted of 1164 runners and non-runners aged 18-65 years. Participants completed questionnaires on physical activity and their running histor...

The purpose of the study was twofold: 1) to qualitatively investigate the different change of direction (COD) strategies used by females in an ecological situation; and 2) to evaluate the knee internal adduction moment and knee flexion during the first 30% of support as risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during these strategie...

Injury prevention is essential in running due to the risk of overuse injury development. Tailoring running shoes to individual needs may be a promising strategy to reduce this risk. Novel manufacturing processes allow the production of individualised running shoes that incorporate features that meet individual biomechanical and experiential needs....

This study aimed to investigate and compare the performance, perceptual and reaction skills and neuromuscular control indicators of sub-elite (SEG) and elite (EG) karate athletes during the execution of a Gyaku Tsuki punch. The study included 14 male athletes, equally divided into two subgroups according to their current competitive level. We analy...

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among Achilles tendon (AT) dimensions, ankle joint stiffness, and footfall patterns in recreational rearfoot and non-rearfoot runners. Based on the foot strike index, a total of 107 runners were divided into rearfoot (47 females/40 males) and non-rearfoot runners (14 females/6 males...

There are relatively few running studies that have attempted to prospectively identify biomechanical risk factors associated with Achilles tendon (AT) injuries. Therefore, the aim was to prospectively determine potential running biomechanical risk factors associated with the development of AT injuries in recreational, healthy runners. At study entr...

This study investigated the short-term responses of step characteristics in sprinters and team-sports players under different bend conditions. Eight participants from each group completed 80 m sprints in four conditions: banked and flat, in lanes two and four (L2B, L4B, L2F, L4F). Groups showed similar changes in step velocity (SV) across condition...

This study aims to explore the variation of lower extremity kinematic characteristics when elite taekwondo athletes perform the side-kick on protective gear placed at various heights. Twenty distinguished male national athletes were recruited and were asked to kick targets at three different heights adjusted according to their body height. A three-...

Although prevention is better than treatment, after a knee injury occurs, the adjustment of the movement technique back to the posture before the injury and the restoration of accuracy is very important for professional and amateur players. This study aimed to compare the differences in lower limb mechanics during the golf downswing between those w...

Achilles tendinopathy was reported to have the highest incidence proportion of all running-related injuries. The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between the Achilles tendon structure and running activity status. 350 healthy participants (runners and inactive controls, 30-50 years) participated in this research. Each participant...

This study aimed to compare impact loading between two age groups of preschool children (3–4 and 5–6 years old) and one group of young adults representing mature level of running skill (n = 15 per group). Three-dimensional biomechanical data were collected during running barefoot, in minimalist and running shoes. A two-way mixed ANOVA was performed...

The purpose of this study was to determine how the intrinsic head-trunk coordination dynamics that exist during forward running are modified during a dynamic sidestepping task. Fourteen athletes performed both forward running and sidestepping tasks. Head-trunk coordination and range of motion were assessed during the flight and stance phases in the...

Running shoes were categorized either as motion control, cushioned, or minimal footwear in the past. Today, these categories blur and are not as clearly defined. Moreover, with the advances in manufacturing processes, it is possible to create individualized running shoes that incorporate features that meet individual biomechanical and experiential...

The true differences between barefoot and shod running are difficult to directly compare because of the concomitant change to a mid/forefoot footfall pattern that typically occurs during barefoot running. The purpose of this study was to compare isolated effects of footwear structure and cushioning on running mechanics in habitual mid/forefoot runn...

Necessary for effective ambulation, head stability affords optimal conditions for the perception of visual information during dynamic tasks. This maintenance of head-in-space equilibrium is achieved, in part, by the attenuation of the high frequency impact shock resulting from ground contact. While a great deal of experimentation has been done on t...

The roundhouse kick is one of the most widely applied techniques in a taekwondo competition. Because the scoring system of taekwondo has been changed, the skill of roundhouse kick has been affected. Therefore, coaches and athletes are attempting to better understand how to control the movement of the kick to gain points more effectively. The aim of...

INTRODUCTION: Effects of various footwear on running impact loading was immensely studied adult population. However, there is lack of scientific knowledge about possible differences between different age groups (children, adolescent, adults). Running skill (technique) substantially develops in preschool children and most children achieved mastery l...

Achilles tendon (AT) tendinopathy was reported to be the pathology with one of the highest incidences of all running-related injuries. Non-rearfoot FP has been proposed to be the risk factor for AT overload. T2* relaxation time of Achilles tendon is considered to be a marker of AT tendinopathy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare T2...

Research is often conducted to investigate footwear mechanical properties and their effects on running biomechanics, but little is known about their influence on runner satisfaction, or how well the shoe is perceived. A tool to predict runner satisfaction in a shoe from its mechanical properties would be advantageous for footwear companies. Data in...

Non-technical Summary Bow and arrow technology plays a significant role in the recent evolutionary history of modern humans, but limitations of preservation make it challenging to identify archaeological evidence of early archery. Since bone structure can change in response to muscle force, archers of the past can potentially be identified through...

Running footwear is continuously being modified and improved; however, running-related overuse injury rates remain high. Nevertheless, novel manufacturing processes enable the production of individualized running shoes that can fit the individual needs of runners, with the potential to reduce injury risk. For this reason, it is essential to investi...

For many years, running-related injuries have been studied on surfaces that are flat, smooth and predictable but there are few studies that have reported on injuries in trail running. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to report on the prevalence of injuries incurred during trail running, the anatomical location most affected by injury, the t...

The aim of this study was to assess acute effects of footwear conditions (barefoot, minimalist and standard running shoes) on running impact loading in the preschool years. Fourty-eight habitually shod preschool children (26 males and 22 females) were divided into four age groups (3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old). Children performed a simple running game...

Background Running overuse injuries (ROIs) occur within a complex, partly injury-specific interplay between training loads and extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors. Biomechanical risk factors (BRFs) are related to the individual running style. While BRFs have been reviewed regarding general ROI risk, no systematic review has addressed BRFs for spec...

Head reorientation precedes body reorientation during direction change to facilitate gaze realignment, thus enhancing perceptual awareness. Whole body kinematics are dependent on the available planning time. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of anticipation on head control and head-trunk coordination during sidestepping tasks. Fourte...

Background Coordination variability has been linked to overuse running injuries and has been studied both on a treadmill and over-ground. It is not clear, however, if the coordination variability data from over-ground locomotion can be compared with treadmill locomotion data. Research Question Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare co...

Background Previous research indicated that running barefoot or in minimalist shoes led to lower impact loading in an adolescent and adult population. Running as fundamental locomotor skill significantly develops during early childhood (preschool age). However, no study has focused on effect of footwear condition on lower limb impact loading during...

Inconsistencies between sexes in the landing criteria provided by the international gymnastics governing body (FIG) may predispose female gymnasts to lower extremity injury. This study aimed to investigate lower extremity biomechanics when performing the male and female landing strategy. Seven collegiate, female gymnasts (age: 20.5 ± 1.2 years, hei...

The accurate detection of foot-strike and toe-off is often critical in the assessment of running biomechanics. The gold standard method for step event detection requires force data which are not always available. Although kinematics-based algorithms can also be used, their accuracy and generalisability are limited, often requiring corrections for s...

In the last 40 years, biomechanics has progressed significantly as a subdiscipline within kinesiology. The development of national and international societies dedicated to biomechanics and the increase in the number of scientific biomechanics journals has led to a growth in the biomechanics community. In the last few decades, the research focus in...

This study investigated the differences between 5 commonly used methods to calculate leg stiffness over a range of running velocities. Thirteen male, habitually rearfoot, recreational runners ran on a force instrumented treadmill for a 5-minute running session. Each session consisted of 30-second intervals at 6 progressively faster speeds from 2.5...

Objective To identify and evaluate the evidence of the most relevant running-related risk factors (RRRFs) for running-related overuse injuries (ROIs) and to suggest future research directions. Design Systematic review considering prospective and retrospective studies. (PROSPERO_ID: 236832) Data sources Pubmed. Connected Papers. The search was perfo...

Understanding lower extremity leg joint functions (JFs) is essential for the design of technical devices to assist locomotion. In running, footwear is the interface between the foot and the ground, modulating the distribution of mechanical work across joints [1]. However, little is known about how footwear can redistribute joint work and thus chang...

Introduction Modifications of midsole geometry and material properties are essential footwear design features to prevent overuse injuries (OIs) in distance running. With an injury frequency of 10.9%, Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is one of the most common OIs (Lopes et al., 2012). The occurrence of AT is generally associated with the amount and the du...

Background It is commonly assumed that abnormal foot biomechanics cause plantar fasciitis; however, this assumption is not well supported. In this study, we investigated rearfoot to medial-forefoot coordination of healthy and plantar fasciitis individuals. We hypothesized that chronic plantar fasciitis individuals would exhibit greater intersegment...

Coordination variability (CV) is commonly analyzed to understand dynamical qualities of human locomotion. The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines for the number of trials required to inform the calculation of a stable mean lower limb CV during overground locomotion. Three-dimensional lower limb kinematics were captured for 10 recreation...

In our prior studies, participants walked and grasped a dowel using an anticipatory mode of control. However, it is unknown how this combined task would change in a less predictable environment. We investigated the online control aspects involved in the combined task of walking and grasping under different coordination patterns between upper- and l...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the variation of lower-limb kinematic characteristics and movement patterns in elite taekwondo competitors when performing roundhouse kicks at various attack angles. Nineteen male elite athletes specialising in roundhouse kicks were asked to kick a target at 90°, 60°, and 30°. A three-dimensional (3D)...

In large cohort studies, due to the time-consuming nature of the measurement of movement biomechanics, more than one evaluator needs to be involved. This may increase the potential occurrence of error due to inaccurate positioning of markers to the anatomical locations. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and objectivity of l...

The accurate detection of foot-strike and toe-off is often critical in the assessment of running biomechanics. The gold standard method for step event detection requires force data which are not always available. Although kinematics-based algorithms can also be used, their accuracy and generalisability are limited, often requiring corrections for s...

Introduction: Running skill develops during the pre-school age. There is little research evidence as to how footstrike patterns are affected by footwear during this important developmental period. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare footstrike patterns among different age groups of preschool children running in different footwear conditi...

Quantifying the midsole material characteristics of athletic footwear is a standard task in footwear research and development. Current material testing protocols primarily focus on the determination of cushioning properties of the heel region or the quantification of the midsole properties as one assembly. However, midsoles possess different spatia...

The purpose of this study was to examine head movement control during running and sidestepping tasks. Fourteen collegiate male athletes performed running and sidestepping tasks. Sagittal and transverse head and trunk angles, vertical trunk displacement and head-trunk coordination were assessed during the flight and stance phases. The sidestepping t...

Far too little attention has been paid to health effects of air pollution and physical (in)activity on musculoskeletal health. The purpose of the Healthy aging in industrial environment study (4HAIE) is to investigate the potential impact of physical activity in highly polluted air on musculoskeletal health. A total of 1500 active runners and inact...

The design of products related to space life systems usually involves consideration of several main requirements or objectives sometimes with multidisciplinary facets. Examples of such a diverse set of requirements includes comfort, facilitating human performance, maintaining an oxygen environment, resistance to extreme temperatures, strength, long...

The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity coordination variability between runners with history of Achilles tendon rupture and healthy controls. Twenty participants, 10 Achilles tendons repaired and 10 controls, were recruited. The groups were matched according to age, sex, volume of running, speed, body mass, height, and footfall ty...

Golf putting requires accuracy and precision. However, environmental factors can influence the accuracy and stability of the putt. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the adjustment and stabilization strategies of elite college golfers putting under different wind conditions. A 3 D motion analysis system and two force plates wer...

The purpose of this study was to identify changes in segment/joint coordination and coordination variability in running with increasing head stability requirements. Fifteen strides from twelve recreational runners while running on a treadmill at their preferred speed were collected. Head stability demands were manipulated through real-time visual f...

Tibial stress fractures are a problematic injury amongst runners. Increased loading of the tibia has been observed following prolonged weight‐bearing activity and is suggested to be the result of reduced activity of the plantar flexor muscles. The musculature that spans the tibia contributes to bending of the bone and influences the magnitude of st...

The aim of this study was to compare the footfall pattern (FP) in different age groups of preschool children while they ran in standard running shoes (SRS) and barefoot. Forty-eight children aged 3-6 years participated in the study and were split into 4 age groups (n=12). All children performed a simple running game (based on the shuffle run) in SR...

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between Achilles tendon dimensions and foot strike index in rearfoot and non-rearfoot runners. 107 recreational runners were divided into a group of rearfoot (n = 88) and a group of non-rearfoot runners (n = 19). Achilles tendon dimensions were measured by a combination of ultrasonography i...

The lateral tilt of the arms accompanied by trunk lateral tilt is a typical blocking manoeuvre in volleyball. However, during this unanticipated blocking movement, an associated risk of ACL injury may result. The aim of the present study was to compare associative ACL risk factors at the initial contact and the first and second peak of VGRF during...