Parents who ran with a stroller were less likely to sustain an overuse injury during the first three years after becoming a parent than those who ran without a stroller, according to a study published in PLOS One by researchers at Penn State Berks. For every 1,000 miles run, parents who ran with a stroller had a 55% lower injury rate than those who ran without a stroller.
Among 196 stroller runners and 53 non-stroller runners in the final analysis, 30% of those who ran without a stroller reported an overuse injury, compared with 19% of those in the stroller-running group. Non-stroller runners were also more likely to experience multiple injuries during the first three years after becoming a parent.
Senior author Allison Altman-Singles, associate professor of kinesiology and mechanical engineering at Penn State Berks, said previous studies showed that running with a stroller alters a person's running mechanics, with stroller runners tending to have shorter strides, lean forward more, twist less through the torso and run slower. "When you run with a stroller, you unweight the body a little bit, taking away some of the downward force by pressing on the handlebar, so you experience lower vertical loading," Singles said. The change in biomechanics may relieve stress on weight-bearing joints, particularly the knee.
Researchers recruited parents who had been running more than five miles per week before having children and who ran when their child was between 6 months and 3 years old. The two groups were similar in age, height, weight and other demographic factors, though most participants were female. Both groups reported high rates of plantar fasciitis; Singles said this may be linked to physiological changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period rather than stroller running itself.
The research team noted the relatively small study population as a limitation and said they plan to continue investigating stroller running, including the biomechanical changes and motivational factors associated with the practice.
