“Native” Joint Versus “Step” Joint: There Is More Way from Data Collection to Comprehensive Conclusion

The human body consists of multiple joints with many degrees of freedom that open the context for biomechanical interventions in the form of recommendations and feedback, with the purpose of improving performance, reducing the risk of injuries, and so forth. These interventions sometimes involve loading trade-offs between joints or loading redistribution. Removing the load from one joint or segment (“native” joint) and transferring it to another joint (“step” joint) seem to need more consideration. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to highlight the necessity of scientific communication from data collection to conclusions in the form of recommendations, presentations, and publications. The tendency to focus on specific joints and develop expertise hides the trade-off between joint loads, and sometimes, recommendations or feedback on the basis of biomechanical loading simply shift the risk of injury. To address this concern, several approaches are suggested, including improved marker sets, dataset availability, departmental diversity, research team collaboration, and the sharing of conferences and sessions.