Effect of Increasing Running Cadence on Peak Impact Force in an Outdoor Environment.
Taylor Musgjerd, Jacob Anason, Drew Rutherford and 1 others
PMID 34386286WHAT IT FOUND
Recreational runners increased cadence by 7.3% using a metronome outdoors, resulting in a 5.6% decrease in peak impact force.
The change was immediate, but the study did not confirm if the higher cadence was retained without the audio cues.
Key findings
01Participants increased their cadence by 7.3% from baseline when using a metronome during an outdoor run.
02This increase in cadence was associated with a 5.6% decrease in average peak impact force.
03A standard GPS watch measured cadence similarly to the research-grade insole sensors, suggesting consumer technology is feasible for outdoor monitoring.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 healthy participants with no history of lower extremity injury, so results may not apply to injured runners. The study was short-term; it is unknown if runners can maintain the increased cadence without the continuous audio cues from the metronome. Environmental factors like wind and temperature varied between the two testing days, which could have influenced running mechanics. The study measured immediate changes in force, but did not prove that this reduction in impact force actually prevents injuries.
Declared interests
All authors report no conflict of interest associated with this project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that increasing cadence reduces injury risk. This study showed a decrease in peak impact force in healthy runners, but it did not track whether these runners sustained fewer injuries over time.