Abstract
BackgroundIn recent years, athletes have ventured into ultra-endurance and adventure racing events, which tests their ability to race, navigate, and survive. These events often require race participants to carry some form of load, to bear equipment for navigation and survival purposes. Previous studies have reported specific alterations in biomechanics when running with load which potentially influence running performance and injury risk. We hypothesize that a biomechanically informed neuromuscular training program would optimize running mechanics during load carriage to a greater extent than a generic strength training program.MethodsThis will be a two group, parallel randomized controlled trial design, with single assessor blinding. Thirty healthy runners will be recruited to participate in a six weeks neuromuscular training program. Participants will be randomized into either a generic training group, or a biomechanically informed training group. Primary outcomes include self-determined running velocity with a 20 % body weight load, jump power, hopping leg stiffness, knee extensor and triceps-surae strength. Secondary outcomes include running kinetics and kinematics. Assessments will occur at baseline and post-training.DiscussionTo our knowledge, no training programs are available that specifically targets a runner’s ability to carry load while running. This will provide sport scientists and coaches with a foundation to base their exercise prescription on.Trial registrationANZCTR (ACTRN12616000023459) (14 Jan 2016)Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1271-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
In recent years, athletes have ventured into ultra-endurance and adventure racing events, which tests their ability to race, navigate, and survive
The increased overuse injury rate associated with load carriage has largely been investigated in the military setting, where load carriage biomechanics have been predominantly investigated while walking [7]
To compare changes in (1) self-determined running velocity with and without load carriage, (2) lower limb running kinematics and kinetics, (3) jumping power and hopping stiffness, (4) and isokinetic knee and ankle extensor strength in healthy adult runners participating in a biomechanically informed training program compared to a generic resistance training program
Summary
Athletes have ventured into ultra-endurance and adventure racing events, which tests their ability to race, navigate, and survive. These events often require race participants to carry some form of load, to bear equipment for navigation and survival purposes. A previous study reported that 8 % of the 5000 injuries reported in the Australian Defence Force from January 2009 to December 2010, were related to heavy load carriage [8]. Minimising the reduction in running speed associated with load carriage is important for the survivability of military personnel, the performance of athletes, and the overall efficiency of movement in recreational runners [11, 12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
