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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance
Published on: January 17, 2013
Viability of Structured Gait Retraining for Improving Clinical Outcomes Following Running-related Injury in Active
Kelly Leugers1, Sara Mathews1, Rhoda Anderson1
1Physical Therapy, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Liberty, NC 28310, USA.
Introduction:
All branches of the U.S. Military have a running component of their physical readiness testing battery. Running-related musculoskeletal injuries affect 20 to 40% of DoD Service Members each year. Running form has not historically been addressed with military running-related injuries. To assess the utility of a structured gait retaining protocol designed to treat the onset of running-related pain and/or injury by correcting identified biomechanical risk factors for injury and improve clinical outcomes.
Study Design:
Case series.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 160 Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) with running-related lower-body musculoskeletal injuries were referred by a physical therapist for a multisession gait retraining program termed "Run with CLASS" (Cadence, Lean, Alignment, Soft-landing, Strike). Run with CLASS utilized various drills to emphasize impact progression, proximal strengthening, and proprioception and spatial awareness.
Results:
Results revealed that the implemented gait retraining protocol significantly improved running parameters following lower-body injury as evidenced by increased cadence, improved functional assessment scores, and a marked transition from predominantly heel strike to forefoot strike patterns during running.
Conclusions:
A 3-week supervised gait retraining program focused on the gait retraining program termed "Run with CLASS" (Cadence, Lean, Alignment, Soft-landing, Strike) was successful in altering biomechanics of self-selected running gait by increasing cadence and transitioning ADSMs to a forefoot foot strike. Additionally, ADSMs reported significant improvements on the self-reported functional scores on the University of Wisconsin Running Injury and Recovery Index and Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation.
Level Of Evidence:
4.
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