Reducing impact loading during running with the use of real-time visual feedback

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Running-related stress fractures are common and linked to high tibial acceleration and loading rates.
• Identifying and modifying these loading patterns may reduce injury risk.
• Real-time feedback offers a potential method for runners to self-correct harmful biomechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if runners can decrease tibial acceleration and vertical-force loading rates using real-time visual feedback.
• To assess the immediate effects of such feedback on biomechanical parameters associated with stress fractures.

Main Methods:

• A single-subject repeated measures design was employed with five participants.
• Subjects ran on a treadmill while wearing a tibial accelerometer and running on force transducers.
• Data on tibial acceleration and force loading rates were collected during warm-up, feedback, and no-feedback periods.

Main Results:

• Four out of five runners showed significant reductions in peak tibial acceleration after the feedback period.
• All participants demonstrated significant decreases in impact peak and vertical ground reaction force loading rates.
• These reductions were observed even after the feedback was removed (no-feedback period).

Conclusions:

• A single training session using real-time visual feedback can effectively reduce biomechanical loading associated with stress fractures in most runners.
• This approach holds promise for developing targeted training programs to mitigate stress fracture risk in runners.