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. 2018 Nov 30;8:17496. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35980-6

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Spring-mass mechanics of running. (a) The mechanical energy during the braking phase of running is absorbed by compression of the leg-spring from initial length (Lo) to minimal length (Lmin). The body’s centre of mass (CoM) reaches its highest position during the aerial phase, whereas the lowest position, Lmin and the (b) peak ground reaction force (GRFpeak) occur at the mid-stance. Leg stiffness can be calculated as a ratio of GRFpeak to the change in leg length. During heel running, a visible GRF impact peak (IP) and a relatively high impact loading rate (LR) occur after the heel collides with the ground.