Effect of Strength and Coordination Training on Biomechanics and Injury in New Runners

The investigators hypothesize that new runners participating in an 8 week strength and coordination training program prior to beginning to run will 1) display different coordination patterns , and 2) experience fewer injuries, compared to new runners who do not perform strength or coordination training prior to running.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Injuries; Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Strength and Coordination Training; Behavioral: Walking

Detailed Description

The study will investigate the effect of a sequenced training program - beginning with strength training, followed by running-specific coordination exercises, and finally a gradual introduction to running - on strength, coordination and injury incidence in a group of novice runners. he investigators hypothesize that runners who perform strength and coordination training prior to beginning to run will 1) demonstrate greater lower extremity strength, 2) demonstrate alters coordination patterns and 3) experience fewer injuries, when compared to a control group of novice runners who perform no physical preparation prior to a gradual introduction to running. The possible long-term benefits of this study include reduced burden of running-related injuries, increased participation in the sport of running, improved cardiovascular and metabolic health characteristics, and reduced incidence of disease such as cardiovascular events and cancer.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Virginia
    • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
      • Virginia Commonwealth University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• No previous participation in running races
• Run less than 10km total in past year
• Able to run continuously (ie at least 5mph) for 5 min (so that biomechanical analysis of running form can be conducted)
• Female participants may not be pregnant
• Participants will be screened using the PARQ+ form, and Parmed-X form completed by a physician if necessary
• Cleared for physical activity through screening
• English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous (at any time of life) training of 3 or months of consistently running 3 or more days per week

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Strength and Coordination Training; The strength and coordination group will perform a progression of exercises utilizing body weight and resistance bands as resistance. Exercises include squats, lunges, jumps etc. typical of a normal strength training program.	Behavioral: Strength and Coordination Training; Perform training exercises 3/week. Weeks 1-2: general strength (isolated muscle groups) Weeks 3-4: running-specific strength (multi-joint, upright) Weeks 5-6: power/coordination I (low amplitude/intensity) Weeks 7-8: power/coordination II (higher amplitude/intensity) Weeks 9-16: Run training. Each training session will start with a 10 minute strength & coordination warm up. Group will gradually progress from mixed run/walk for 20 minutes to a 40 minute run.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Walking; The walking group will be instructed to walk 3x/week, progressing from 30 to 45 min over 8 weeks.	Behavioral: Walking; Perform training exercises 3/week. Weeks 1-2: 30 minute walk Weeks 3-4: 35 minute walk Weeks 5-6: 40 minute walk Weeks 7-8: 45 minute walk Weeks 9-16: Run training. Each training session will start with a 10 minute walking warm up. Group will gradually progress from mixed run/walk for 20 minutes to a 40 minute run.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Running biomechanics	Relative joint motions will be assessed continuously throughout the stride cycle using a vector coding technique.	Change from week 0 to week 16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Running injury.	Time to first running related injury.	Measured in days over the 16 week training period.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Running performance	5km time trial at the end of 16 weeks training.	16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sheryl Finucane, PT, PhD, CEEAA, Virginia Commonwealth University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): January 15, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): June 4, 2018
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): June 4, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 19, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): September 26, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): June 18, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2019
• Last Verified: June 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: running related injuries
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Leg Injuries; Disease; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Sprains and Strains; Knee Injuries; Syndrome; Wounds and Injuries; Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome; Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: HM20010685

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No