DiscoverSports Medicine ProjectRunning for a PhD: Can Changing Your Gait Instantly Reduce Knee Pain? #122
Running for a PhD: Can Changing Your Gait Instantly Reduce Knee Pain? #122

Running for a PhD: Can Changing Your Gait Instantly Reduce Knee Pain? #122

Update: 2025-09-07
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study link :https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9884822/pdf/fspor-04-1048655.pdf


Key takeaways:


  • Gait modifications can immediately reduce patellofemoral pain in some runners.

  • The most effective strategies were increasing step rate by 10% and adopting a forefoot strike pattern.

  • Runners with a rearfoot strike benefitted more from forefoot strike and “running softer,” while non-RFS mainly improved with a higher step rate.

  • Reductions in patellofemoral joint force were linked to pain decreases, but not always — suggesting other mechanisms (psychological/central factors) may also contribute.

  • Increasing step rate is likely the safest first option; forefoot strike may work but carries higher Achilles tendon load, so requires caution.


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Running for a PhD: Can Changing Your Gait Instantly Reduce Knee Pain? #122

Running for a PhD: Can Changing Your Gait Instantly Reduce Knee Pain? #122

Blake Withers