Elsevier

Gait & Posture

Volume 43, January 2016, Pages 220-224
Gait & Posture

Run kinematics with and without a jogging stroller

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.10.001Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Speed, cadence, stride length and stance time were unchanged with a stroller.

  • The stroller resulted in reduced movement of the trunk and hip extension.

  • Anterior trunk lean and pelvic tilt increased with the stroller.

  • Mobility work may be recommended for those who run with a stroller.

Abstract

Background

Jogging strollers have become increasingly popular as they allow a parent the freedom to run without having to leave their children. Few studies have examined the effects of running with a stroller and no study to date has examined the effects on joint kinematics.

The aim of this study was to compare lower limb and trunk kinematics while running with and without a jogging stroller.

Methods

Participants (N = 15) ran on a 16-metre indoor runway, with and without a stroller, at their self-selected comfortable training speed. Three-dimensional trunk and lower limb kinematics were assessed using the CODA cx1 active marker system.

Findings

The jogging stroller led to reduced movement of the trunk in both the transverse [mean difference −11.4°, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−14.8°, −8.2°), p < 0.001] and coronal [−2.9°, 95% CI (−0.8°, −4.9°), p = 0.009] planes most likely due to fixing of the upper limbs. There was also a 6.7° [95% CI (−9°, −4.6°), p < 0.001] increase in forward trunk lean, 2.8° [95% CI (−4.2°, −1.7°), p < 0.001] increase in anterior pelvic tilt and a 3° [95% CI (−4.4°, −1.5°), p = 0.001] decrease in hip extension. There were no significant changes in knee or ankle kinematics and no changes in stride length, cadence or stance time.

Interpretation: Our data suggest that jogging strollers lead to minor changes in trunk, pelvis and hip kinematics with no significant changes at the knee and ankle. Due to the changes in kinematics we suggest that flexibility work for the spine, pelvis and hips may be recommended.

Introduction

Participation in weekly sports among adults in Ireland increased from 45% in 2011 to 47% in the first half of 2013 [1]. Personal exercise remains the most popular sporting activity with running demonstrating the strongest increase in participation (6–9%). This supports anecdotal evidence of a ‘running boom’ in Ireland. Secondary to this ‘running boom’, the prevalence of jogging strollers has increased in parks and recreational areas and even races. Jogging strollers have been developed to allow parents or adults to walk, run or jog while pushing their infants.

To date there has been limited research on running with a stroller [2], [3], [4], [5]. All studies to date have primarily focused on indices of exercise intensity and have confirmed increased exertion while running with a jogging stroller. Heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, lactate concentration, ventilation and VO2 all increased compared to jogging without a stroller. However, while statistically significant, Brown et al. [3] conclude that these increases were relatively minor and Gregory et al. [4] conclude that it is feasible to run with a stroller with minimal increases in exertion.

In terms of run biomechanics, with a stroller, only stride length and cadence have been examined in previous studies with conflicting results. Brown et al. [2], [3] report reduced step length and increased number of steps when running with a stroller. In contrast, Smith et al. [5] found no change in stride length and conclude that the biomechanics of running do not change with a stroller and there is no increased risk of orthopaedic injury. However, the authors highlight the need to explore biomechanical factors in detail to expose possible underlying gait changes.

Jogging strollers may alter run biomechanics through the application of an external load and the resulting increased exertion confirmed in previous studies [2], [3], [4], [5] or also via the necessary fixing of the upper limbs required to hold and push the stroller. The experimental hypothesis of the study was as follows: that fixing the upper limbs on the stroller would change the position and reduce the range of movement at the trunk and pelvis, and that this would lead to a corresponding reduction in the total range distally at the hip, knee and ankle. The null hypothesis, conversely, was that there would be no change in kinematics with the stroller.

In addition, significant changes to run biomechanics may contribute to injury. Hoozemans et al. highlight that pushing or pulling loads can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly back pain [6]. The design of jogging strollers means that the actual load is minimal but altered running mechanics are increasingly recognised as a potential contributory factor to running injuries. Anterior pelvic tilt [7], hip adduction and internal rotation [8], foot strike pattern [9], step rate and length [10] are among the many variables thought to contribute to injury.

The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the initial changes in run biomechanics in response to pushing a stroller in healthy adults to ascertain if there are any significant biomechanical changes likely to contribute to injury or minor changes that warrant highlighting for those regularly running with a stroller.

Section snippets

Design

This was a repeated measures study, approved by the Institution's Ethics Committee. Written, informed consent to participate was obtained from all participants.

Participants

Fifteen healthy adult recreational runners (10 female, 5 male; age 35 ± 7.2 years; height 1.75 ± 0.06 metres; weight 67.19 ± 11.89 kilograms), with no recent injury concerns, who had recently completed a 5 km road race were recruited from our centre. To ensure that early adaptation to running with a buggy was examined none of the participants

Results

The results comparing running with and without a stroller are summarised in Table 1 and Fig. 1.

Discussion

Running with a stroller has become an increasingly popular option for runners with infants and young toddlers as it offers the freedom to run outdoors without having to leave children behind [5]. Our study is the first to quantify the kinematic patterns of running with a stroller compared to independent running.

Initial adaptation to running with a stroller did not change self-selected speed, stride characteristics or stance time showing that globally the stroller does not affect running

Conclusion

This study found initial adaptation to running with a stroller resulted in kinematic changes in some lower limb and trunk variables compared to running without one. Runners with a stroller demonstrated reduced movement of the trunk, in both the transverse and coronal plane, most likely due to the hands holding the stroller. Running with a stroller also led to a small but statistically significant increase in anterior trunk lean, anterior pelvic tilt and reduced hip extension.

Over-all there were

Conflict of interest statement

None

References (18)

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