New research from PSU indicates that parents who run while pushing a stroller may experience a lower rate of overuse injuries compared to those who run without one. Researchers set out to evaluate whether key physical forces associated with common running injuries change when incorporating a stroller into an exercise routine.
Study Examines Stroller Running and Overuse Injury Risks
Up to 79% of runners experience injuries each year. When examining the physical mechanics of running, investigators analyzed metrics related to vertical loading—how fast force is transferred into the body—and torsional loading, which measures how much the foot twists on the floor as a runner pushes off and moves forward. High vertical loading rates are linked to overuse injuries such as knee pain, stress fractures, and plantar fasciitis.
Biomechanical Changes and Impact Forces
To measure step impact, researchers at the Safetyandhealthmagazine campus examined 38 healthy runners who ran at least five miles per week. Each participant ran both with and without a stroller across a force plate.
The evaluation revealed a significant reduction across all vertical loading metrics, ranging from 8% to 17%, when participants ran with a stroller. Investigators noted that placing hands on the handlebars and leaning forward allows runners to unweight themselves vertically, shifting a portion of their body weight through the stroller rather than their legs.
However, the study also found that torsional loading metrics increased significantly, with some measures rising by more than four-fold. Researchers explained that while the arms and torso naturally rotate during standard running to counterbalance leg movement, holding onto stroller handlebars can limit upper body rotation. This restriction causes twisting forces under the feet to increase as compensation, and additional twisting may also be required to propel the stroller forward and maintain a straight line.
Survey Data and Observed Injury Rates
A separate Newsweek report detailed survey findings published in the journal PLOS One, which analyzed responses from 255 runners with children aged zero to three years. Among the surveyed participants, 19% of stroller runners reported suffering an overuse injury, compared to 30% of non-stroller runners. When adjusted for mileage, stroller runners sustained injuries at a rate of 0.19 per 1,000 miles, compared to 0.42 per 1,000 miles for runners not using a stroller.
Plantars fasciitis emerged as the most commonly reported condition across both groups, and the foot was identified as the most frequently injured body region overall. The study also observed that parents with children aged 6 to 12 months logged 34% more miles when utilizing a stroller.
Expert Recommendations and Limitations
Study authors cautioned that because the research relied on self-reported survey data, the findings demonstrate an association rather than direct proof of cause and effect. Differences in pacing, shorter outings, and behavioral habits among parents may also influence the observed outcomes.
Allison Altman-Singles, associate professor of kinesiology and mechanical engineering at Penn State Berks and senior author of the research, emphasized that stroller running remains a safe, practical exercise method for parents. For those considering the practice, Altman-Singles recommended selecting a lightweight jogging stroller equipped with an adjustable handlebar height to keep elbows comfortably bent, as well as a three-wheeled model featuring a lockable front wheel and hand brakes for added safety on hills.