A 10% increase in step rate improves running kinematics and clinical outcomes in runners with patellofemoral pain at 4 weeks and 3 months

Review written by Tom Goom info

Key Points

  • A single session of gait retraining to increase step rate by 10% using a metronome can be effective to alter gait if assisted by self-monitoring using a GPS watch.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Increasing step rate by 10% during running has been found to reduce patellofemoral joint stress (1), but there are few quality studies examining the effect of this approach on pain and function in runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Where studies have used gait retraining to address symptoms in runners, they have tended to use 8 sessions with gradually reducing feedback. This study sought to test whether runners may be able to self-administer an effective gait retraining intervention for PFP using a metronome after a single session of instruction.

Increasing step rate by 10% during running has been found to reduce patellofemoral joint stress.
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Education and activity modification should make up our key treatment strategy for PFP.

METHODS

18 runners with PFP were recruited for this study, 12 of whom were found to have increased hip adduction or contralateral pelvic drop during 3D gait analysis. These 12 participants (4 male, 8 female) were provided with a 10-minute gait

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