Clinical findings related to running-related pain in injured populations
| Study (year) | Study design | Sample | Outcome measures | Intervention | Significant clinical results | Significant biomechanical results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFP | ||||||
| Noehren (2010) | Case series 1-month follow-up | 10 female runners Running at least three times and 6 miles per week At least 20° peak hip adduction | Running-related pain VAS | 2-weeks (eight sessions) of visual (real time 3D feedback) and verbal faded feedback to reduce hip adduction | ↓ Pain following 2-week intervention and at 1-month follow-up | ↓ Peak hip adduction following 2-week intervention and at 1-month follow-up ↓ Vertical impact peak and loading rates following 2-week intervention |
| Willy (2011) | Case series 3-month follow-up | 10 female runners Running at least 10 km per week At least 20° peak hip adduction | Running-related pain VAS | 2-weeks (eight sessions) of visual (mirror) and verbal faded feedback to reduce hip adduction | ↓ Pain following 2-week intervention and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up | ↓ Peak hip adduction and contralateral pelvic drop following 2-week intervention and at 3-month follow-up |
| Anterior exertional lower leg pain | ||||||
| Diebal (2012) | Case series 12-month follow-up | 10 military personnel diagnosed with compartment syndrome and indicated for surgery (fasciotomy) by an orthopaedic surgeon | Running-related pain VAS Running distance tolerated Intracompartmental pressures | 6-weeks of visual (video) and verbal feedback to transition from RFS to FFS and increase step rate towards 180 per minute | ↓ Pain during running and a reduction in postrunning compartmental pressures following 6-week intervention Improved 2 mile running time and SANE scores at 12-months follow-up No patient required a fasciotomy | ↓ Step length and contact times ↓Peak vertical GRF, impulses, and weight acceptance rates ↑ Step rate (163–172) |
| Breen (2015) | Case series 12-month follow-up | 10 runners (nine M, one F) presenting to sports medicine clinic with anterior exertional lower leg pain causing cessation of running | EILP questionnaire Global rating of change Running distance | 6-weeks of individualised feedback to reduced ankle DF at foot strike (options included instructing MFS, increasing hip flexion, promoting earlier push off, and running more upright) Three sessions of retraining completed independently each week with two follow-up sessions | ↓ Pain during running Eight participants running pain free over 30 min Improved EILP following 6-week intervention and at 12-month follow-up | ↓ Ankle DF at foot strike ↓ Tibial angle (ie, more vertical) ↑ Peak hip flexion angle ↓ Stride length |
3D, three-dimensional; DF, dorsiflexion; EILP, exercise-induced lower leg pain; F, female; RF, ground reaction force; M, male; PFP, patellofemoral pain; SANE, single assessment numeric evaluation; VAS, visual analogue scale.