Hip strengthening does not change running mechanics

NewsBot · Sep 1, 2011

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The Effect of a Hip-Strengthening Program on Mechanics During Running and During a Single-Leg Squat
Richard W. Willy, Irene S. Davis
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(9):625-632

STUDY DESIGN: Block randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether a strengthening and movement education program, targeting the hip abductors and hip external rotators, alters hip mechanics during running and during a single-leg squat.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal movement patterns during running and single-leg squatting have been associated with a number of running-related injuries in females. Therapeutic interventions for these aberrant movement patterns typically include hip strengthening. While these strengthening programs have been shown to improve symptoms, it is unknown if the underlying mechanics during functional movements is altered.

METHODS: Twenty healthy females with excessive hip adduction during running, as determined by instrumented gait analysis, were recruited. The runners were matched by age and running distance, and randomized to either a training group or a control group. The training group completed a hip strengthening and movement education program 3 times per week for 6 weeks in addition to single-leg squat training with neuromuscular reeducation consisting of mirror and verbal feedback on proper mechanics. The control group did not receive an intervention but maintained the current running distance. Using a handheld dynamometer and standard motion capture procedures, hip strength and running and single-leg squat mechanics were compared before and after the strengthening and movement education program.

RESULTS: While hip abductor and external rotation strength increased significantly (P<.005) in the training group, there were no significant changes in hip or knee mechanics during running. However, during the single-leg squat, hip adduction, hip internal rotation, and contralateral pelvic drop all decreased significantly (P = .006, P = .006, and P = .02, respectively). The control group exhibited no changes in hip strength, nor in the single-leg squat or running mechanics at the conclusion of the 6-week study.

CONCLUSION: A training program that included hip strengthening and movement training specific to single-leg squatting did not alter running mechanics but did improve single-leg squat mechanics. These results suggest that hip strengthening and movement training, when not specific to running, do not alter abnormal running mechanics
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Griff · Sep 1, 2011

My initial thoughts are along the lines of whether a 6/52 follow up period is too soon to see significant kinematic changes at hip level transfer to running. Will need to chew this one over with my Physio colleagues and see what they think.

Simon Spooner · Sep 1, 2011

Ian G said: ↑

My initial thoughts are along the lines of whether a 6/52 follow up period is too soon to see significant kinematic changes at hip level transfer to running. Will need to chew this one over with my Physio colleagues and see what they think.
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Griff, there are several potential reasons as to why these workers reported the results that they did. One potential is that they focused upon muscle strength as oppose to muscle length. I have discussed this previously. I know you like your books- this one might be a good one for you:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Assessment-...=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314865257&sr=1-4

Or, if you can stretch to it (you see how clever I've been there): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Muscle-Func...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314865257&sr=1-2

steve90 · Sep 1, 2011

The study showed that hip abductor and external rotation strength increased significantly but this would not necessairly alter abnormal running mechanics.
Would the strengthening of the muscles not alter their capability to withstand larger forces or cope more adequately with the original forces. It might not change the mechanics but would it make the leg more efficient?

Griff · Sep 1, 2011

Simon Spooner said: ↑

Griff, there are several potential reasons as to why these workers reported the results that they did. One potential is that they focused upon muscle strength as oppose to muscle length. I have discussed this previously. I know you like your books- this one might be a good one for you:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Assessment-...=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314865257&sr=1-4

Or, if you can stretch to it (you see how clever I've been there): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Muscle-Func...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314865257&sr=1-2
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You know me - I love a book.

I just dropped a good friend of mine an email with this article attached for his thoughts on when mechanical changes should be seen dynamically from his (a Physio) point of view. Here is his response:

It can certainly happen in 6 weeks and even within a single session sometimes as, in my opinion, this is largely a learned movement behavior that they can quickly correct with feedback. Yes there needs to be an adequate degree of strength in the system to be able to control this but I certainly find that just strengthening someone and not giving them the appropriate feedback and coaching this new found strength and stability into their gait usually doesn't work on its own. Lots of strength is gained almost immediately by improving the % of a motor unit pool that the brain is able to tap into rather than hypertrophy and or hyperplasia on a myofibril level which clearly takes a lot longer. De-trained individuals are often only able to light up a small amount of their motor units even at maximal effort.

So in answer to your questions when do they transfer this to running, I would say as soon as they have adequate strength in some of these basic exercises and can single leg squat well 50 times they should be learning to alter this motor skill. It is only by practicing running differently that you get good at running differently. It is a skill based thing - in other words would you look at someone with a not so great golf swing and say OK, a golf swing involves trunk muscle so do loads of sit ups and crunches with some rotation thrown in and that person will swing a club better? Obviously not, you practice swinging a club to get better at swinging a club. You need to change the motor programme at a cortical and cerebellar level, I do believe, as well as just strengthening the muscles that are involved in that skill.

In the study it says that the subjects are blind to the whole thing, but how can they be? As soon as you start to teach someone how to step down and single leg squat properly you are suggesting to them that alignment of the pelvis on the lower limb is important.
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Hip strengthening does not change running mechanics

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Griff Moderator

Simon Spooner MVP

steve90 Welcome New Poster

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Hip Strengthening For Plantar Fasciitis

Foot and hip stretching and strengthening for plantar fasciitis

Hip Posterolateral Musculature Strengthening in Sedentary Women With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A

Podiatrist Wanted in Melbourne Australia - Sponsorship Available

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