Relationship Between Core Stability And Running Mechanics In Adolescent Runners

Stability of the lumbopelvic “core” is essential for the control and movement of the lower extremity and for absorption and transfer of force. In adult runners, poor core stability is related to increased running injury risk and decreasing core stability results in negative effects on mechanical variables associated with running injuries. It is currently unknown if relationships between core stability and running mechanics exist in adolescent populations. PURPOSE: Evaluate the relationship between core stability and mechanical variables associated with running injuries in adolescent runners. METHODS: 20 adolescent runners (11 M/9 F; age: 12.38 ± 0.79 years; easy training run pace: 3.24 ± 0.17 m/s) participated in this study. Kinematics and kinetics were recorded using a motion capture system as participants ran on an instrumented treadmill. Core stability was assessed using a novel method which evaluates center of pressure movement over 30 seconds while participants sit still on an unstable surface. Core stability was calculated as total center of pressure excursion (CoPEx) during the test, and Pearson’s product-moment correlations were used to determine relationship between CoPEx and running mechanics. RESULTS: Mean CoPEx was 1.39 ± 0.41 m, and mean values for running mechanical variables are shown in Table 1. CoPEx was not correlated with any of the mechanical variables. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to what has been reported in adult runners, core stability was not related to running mechanics in this sample of adolescent runners. Without fully developed motor control, adolescent runners may have more overall variability in their running gait, leading to minimal relationships between running mechanics and core stability. Further research is needed to reveal whether reducing core stability influences injury risk factors, as has been shown in novice adult runners, or whether relationships between core stability and running mechanics change as adolescents mature.