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

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.