Ankle mechanical impedance varies between running and walking

Understanding differences in locomotor biomechanics between walking and running provides fundamental information about human ambulation. Recently, studies of ankle mechanical impedance during locomotion have provided new insight into disturbance response, stability, and energy transfer. Despite studies investigating ankle impedance during walking, little is known about how these properties vary during running. The purpose of this study was to estimate ankle joint impedance during the stance phase of running, and compare these values to previously reported estimates during walking. This study provides novel information about the biomechanics of running and broadens our understanding of how joint mechanical impedance differs between locomotor tasks, motivating the need for future studies.