A fundamental understanding of the biomechanics of normal walking and
running is imortant for understanding the mechanisms of walking and ru
nning injuries. Biomechanical variables, such as temporal and stride p
arameters, muscle activation levels, and joint kinematics and kinetics
collected using computerized gait analysis techniques provide informa
tion about the mechanisms behind walking and running. A comparison of
these parameters collected during walking and running demonstrates the
much increased demands on the body in terms of muscle activation leve
ls, joint range of motion, and joint forces during running as compared
with walking.