Self-selected running gait modifications reduce acute impact loading, awkwardness, and effort.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Running Injury Prevention

Background:

• Impact loading during running is linked to injuries.
• Gait retraining aims to reduce impact loading but can increase perceived effort and awkwardness.
• The effectiveness of self-selected vs. specifically trained gait modifications on impact loading and user experience is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of four gait retraining strategies on acute impact loading, perceived awkwardness, and effort in runners.
• To investigate whether self-selected gait modifications are superior to specifically trained modifications.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen habitual rearfoot/midfoot runners participated.
• Four conditions were tested: forefoot strike pattern, increased step rate, anterior trunk lean, and self-selected gait modification, using real-time biofeedback on an instrumented treadmill.
• Impact loading metrics (VALR, VILR, VIP), perceived awkwardness, and effort were measured and compared to baseline.

Main Results:

• Self-selected gait modification significantly reduced vertical average loading rate (VALR) by 25.3%, vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR) by 27.0%, and vertical impact peak (VIP) by 16.8% compared to baseline.
• Forefoot strike pattern reduced VALR, VILR, and peak tibial acceleration.
• Increased step rate reduced VALR; anterior trunk lean did not reduce impact loading.
• Self-selected gait modification was perceived as less awkward and required less effort than specifically trained modifications (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Self-selected gait modification appears to be a more natural and less effortful strategy for reducing acute impact loading in runners compared to specifically trained modifications.
• While promising for reducing impact loading, the clinical significance of these findings requires further investigation.