Efficacy of an Audio-Based Biofeedback Intervention to Modify Running Gait in Female Runners.

CONTEXT: A variety of gait retraining interventions are available to modify running mechanics associated with musculoskeletal injuries. These often require specialized equipment and/or personnel to prompt the runner toward specific strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether instructing female recreational runners to "run quietly" could decrease impact force characteristics.

DESIGN

Cohort.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen healthy female recreational runners (24 [7] y) volunteered.

INTERVENTIONS: Baseline testing occurred on day 1 (baseline), a posttraining assessment occurred on day 2 (training), and a final assessment occurred 1 week after training on day 3 (follow-up). A smartphone decibel measuring app was used to provide biofeedback on the decibel level of foot strike on day 2 (training).

MAIN OUTCOMES: Peak vertical force, impact transient, peak and average vertical loading rate, ground contact time, and running economy were collected on each day and compared via repeated-measures analyses of variance.

RESULTS

Vertical ground reaction force was lower at follow-up (2.30 bodyweights [BW]) versus baseline (2.39 BW, P = .023) and training (2.34 BW, P = .047). Maximal loading rate decreased from baseline (69.70 BW·s-1) to training (62.24 BW·s-1, P = .021) and follow-up (60.35 BW·s-1, P = .031). There was no change in running economy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that simple instructions to "run quietly" can yield immediate and sustained reductions in impact force profiles, which do not influence running economy.