Figure 2

a) Absolute coordination with Low coordinative variability; forces during locomotion are distributed over a smaller surface area and contribute to overuse injury. b) Relative coordination with an optimal coordinative variability pattern, distributing forces across biological tissues in a manner that does not contribute to overuse injury with appropriate training cycles. Potential paths to injury via High coordinative variability include: c) maintenance of phase relations around similar values with increased variability beyond the norm; d) similar coordinative variability, but an offset from the normative phase relations generally observed (fixed point drift). While relations between a) and b) have been demonstrated in differentially injured participants, the generation of normative values and the potential etiology of injury involving both low and high coordinative variability require prospective studies within groups of interest.