The effect of race has rarely been investigated in biomechanics studies despite racial health disparities in the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and disease, hindering both treatment and assessment of rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that racial differences in gait mechanics exist between African Americans (AA) and white Americans (WA). Ninety-two participants (18–30 years old) were recruited with equal numbers in each racial group and sex. Self-selected walking speed was measured for each participant. 3D motion capture and force plate data were recorded during 7 walking trials at regular and fast set speeds. Step length, step width, peak vertical ground reaction force, peak hip extension, peak knee flexion, and peak ankle plantarflexion were computed for all trials at both set speeds. Multivariate and post-hoc univariate ANOVA models were fit to determine main and interaction effects of sex and race (SPSS V26, α = 0.05). Self-selected walking speed was slower in AA (p = 0.004, ƞ_p² = 0.088). No significant interactions between race and sex were identified. Males took longer steps (regular: p < 0.001, ƞ_p² = 0.288, fast: p < 0.001, ƞ_p² = 0.193) and had larger peak knee flexion (regular: p = 0.007, ƞ_p² = 0.081, fast: p < 0.001, ƞ_p² = 0.188) and ankle plantarflexion angles (regular: p = 0.050, ƞ_p² = 0.044, fast: p = 0.049, ƞ_p² = 0.044). Peak ankle plantarflexion angle (regular: p = 0.012, ƞ_p² = 0.071, fast: p < 0.001, ƞ_p² = 0.137) and peak hip extension angle during fast walking (p = 0.007, ƞ_p² = 0.083) were smaller in AA. Equivalency in gait measures between racial groups should not be assumed. Racially diverse study samples should be prioritized in the development of future research and individualized treatment protocols.

尽管种族健康在肌肉骨骼损伤和疾病的发病率方面存在差异，从而阻碍了治疗和康复评估，但在生物力学研究中很少对种族的影响进行研究。本研究的目的是检验非裔美国人（AA）和白人（WA）之间在步态力学上存在种族差异的假设。招募了92名参与者（18至30岁），每个种族和性别的人数均相等。对每个参与者测量自我选择的步行速度。在7次步行试验中，以常规和快速设定的速度记录了3D运动捕捉和测力板数据。在两种设定速度下，对所有试验都计算了步长，步幅，峰值垂直地面反作用力，峰值髋部伸展，峰值膝盖屈曲和峰值踝peak屈。多元和事后单变量方差分析模型适合确定性别和种族的主要影响和相互作用（SPSS V26，α= 0.05）。自选行走速度在AA中较慢（p = 0.004，ƞ_p ²  = 0.088）。没有发现种族与性别之间的显着相互作用。男性走步较长（常规：p <0.001，_p ²  = 0.288，快：p <0.001，_p ²  = 0.193），并且最大屈膝峰屈曲（常规：p = 0.007，_p ²  = 0.081，快： p <0.001，ƞ _p ²  = 0.188）和踝关节跖屈角度（常规：p = 0.050，ƞ _p ²  = 0.044，快：p = 0.049，ƞ _p ²  = 0.044）。峰脚踝跖屈角度（常规：P = 0.012，ƞ _p ²  = 0.071，快：P <0.001，ƞ _p ² = 0.137）和快速行走（p值= 0.007，ƞ在高峰髋部伸展角度_p ²  = 0.083）为在AA小。不应假定种族群体之间在步态测量上是等效的。在将来的研究和个性化治疗方案的开发中，应优先考虑种族多样化的研究样品。