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Effects of Cadence Training on Running Biomechanics and Efficiency

Treadmill RunningResearch has suggested that increasing running cadence (steps/minute) by 5-10% can reduce loading at the knee and hip joints, and this has spurred interest in the use of cadence training in clinical settings. In particular, Heiderscheit et al. (2011) found that increasing cadence reduced peak vertical ground reaction force, peak hip adduction, peak hip flexion, and peak knee flexion (among other things). Excessive hip adduction, for one example, has been associated with injuries such as patellofemoral pain syndrome (Runner’s knee) and iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).

One of the challenges with gait retraining methods employed in clinical settings is that the equipment required is not always accessible to runners outside of the clinic (e.g., accelerometers, force treadmills). This can require repeated, often costly appointments, especially if they are not covered by insurance. Cadence training has the advantage of being easy to do outside of the clinical setting using smartphone apps, metronomes, or fitness watches that can measure cadence in real time.

Questions that arise are whether runners can make lasting modifications to their running cadence on their own, whether those modifications might yield the same loading changes observed acutely in the lab, and whether there are any negative consequences to cadence change such as a loss of running efficiency. A recent study led by Jocelyn Hafer of the University of Massachusetts addressed each of these issues. Published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, the study looks at how a 6-week cadence training protocol effects running biomechanics and efficiency.

Here is the abstract of the study:

The effect of a cadence retraining protocol on running biomechanics and efficiency: a pilot study

Jocelyn F. Hafer, Allison M. Brown, Polly deMille, Howard J. Hillstrom & Carol Ewing Garber

Journal of Sports Sciences, Volume 33, Issue 7, 2015

Abstract

Many studies have documented the association between mechanical deviations from normal and the presence or risk of injury. Some runners attempt to change mechanics by increasing running cadence. Previous work documented that increasing running cadence reduces deviations in mechanics tied to injury. The long-term effect of a cadence retraining intervention on running mechanics and energy expenditure is unknown. This study aimed to determine if increasing running cadence by 10% decreases running efficiency and changes kinematics and kinetics to make them less similar to those associated with injury. Additionally, this study aimed to determine if, after 6 weeks of cadence retraining, there would be carryover in kinematic and kinetic changes from an increased cadence state to a runner’s preferred running cadence without decreased running efficiency. We measured oxygen uptake, kinematic and kinetic data on six uninjured participants before and after a 6-week intervention. Increasing cadence did not result in decreased running efficiency but did result in decreases in stride length, hip adduction angle and hip abductor moment. Carryover was observed in runners’ post-intervention preferred running form as decreased hip adduction angle and vertical loading rate.

Methods

In this study, researchers screened for runners with a cadence between 150 and 170 steps per minute, which is on the low end of the range of cadences typically observed (six runners were included in the study, so a relatively small sample size). They then had these runners train for 6 weeks with a goal of running at least 50% of their miles at a cadence 10% higher than their baseline. To accomplish this they could use either a metronome app or songs with tempos corresponding to the target cadence. A variety of metabolic and biomechanical measurements were taken before and after the training period to assess the effects of the retraining protocol. They also looked at immediate effects of increasing cadence at the outset to see if changes would be similar to those previously reported in the literature (they were).

Results

After the six week training protocol, the runners preferred cadence had increased significantly from around 166 steps/min on average to around 170 steps/min. Thus, though they did not adopt a full 10% increase through the training, cadence did increase significantly. Along with the preferred cadence increase, the runners also exhibited reduced ankle dorsiflexion at contact (less pronounced heel strike), reduced peak hip adduction angle (the thigh did not angle medially/inward as much), and reduced vertical loading rate. Running efficiency was not significantly different.

Comments

Though the sample size was small (the authors admit this and refer to it as a pilot study in the title), it is encouraging to see that cadence training can lead runners to modify their form, and that changes can alter variables associated with injury (especially with the small cadence increase that they observed). Reduction in hip adduction angle could benefit those with patellofemoral pain or ITBS, and reduced vertical loading rate could benefit those with a history of tibial stress fracture. It’s also encouraging that these benefits are accrued without a hit to running efficiency.

I would like to see this study completed with a larger sample of runners, but it was encouraging the significant changes were found even with this small sample. I’d also like to see some analysis of which method of cadence training is most effective for a runner (music, metronome, real-time feedback via an app or watch).

All things considered, these results do suggest that increasing cadence is one option to consider for those experiencing ilitibial band syndrome, patellofemoral pain syndrome, or past tibial stress fracture. I also like that this is an intervention that runners can undertake on their own without the need to make repeated visits to a clinic. A useful next step would be an interventional study where runners experiencing one of these conditions undergo a cadence training program and symptoms are monitored before and after.

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About Peter Larson

This post was authored by Peter Larson. Pete is a biology teacher, track/soccer coach, and dad (x3) with a passion for running, soccer, and science. If you'd like to learn a little bit more about who I am and what I do, click here, or visit petermlarson.com.

Comments

  1. David Stall says:

    I am a firm believer that an increase in cadence can both be learned and beneficial. After developing bilateral ITBS in my half marathon last Fall I decided it was time to make some changes. It started with reading Peter’s book actually, and one (out of many) thing I took away from that was increased cadence with a shorter stride. I ran with a metronome clipped to my shirt for five months, gradually increasing the days without it. My target was always 180 steps per minute, and now I am always very close to that even without any audio help. I started with a cadence of 160 for reference. I am now much more pain free and faster to boot!

    The only thing I can’t come to terms with is how to run “easy runs” while still keeping a cadence of 180. You can only go so slow while keeping a fast cadence.

    • I think it’s fine to let cadence go down a bit at slower speeds, 180 shouldn’t be the bottom limit for that. I think more in terms of a range from 170-190 or so depending on speed. That being said, I go over 200 spm during intervals, and often drop under 180 if I’m going about 9:00/mile or slower.

  2. Michael says:

    I started running with a metronone a couple of years ago to improve my form. I used it for almost all of my runs to maintain a 180 bpm cadence, regardless of my pace. After doing this for a while, you eventually learn to avoid the sort of awkward foot strike in front of your center of mass. You also learn to keep this good form at a slower pace without “spinning your wheels” so fast. It’s helpful to watch good track athletes who continue jogging a bit after running a race. Their pace and cadence is much slower, but they don’t revert to an awkward heel strike.

  3. Very interesting. I agree that I would want to know which method of cadence training is most effective.

  4. I don’t normally listen to music while running, but I’ve actually used music a few times as a sensory cue to increase or maintain my cadence when I come off a long break from training and need to get back into a rhythm. (Protip: The Chemical Brothers’ Dig Your Own Hole is, top-to-bottom, probably the best workout record for keeping up an intense pace). Glad to see that there’s actually some empirical evidence to back the practice up, and it wasn’t just some placebo-like effect that I was experiencing.

  5. I spent some time running with a metronome this summer and it helped me increase my cadence by about 10 bpm. I went from high 160’s to high 170’s and have stayed there. I’m running even slower now thanks to pregnancy but still trying to keep my cadence at 180. The metronome can really help in my opinion.

  6. Elizabeth says:

    Hi Peter,
    I am fairly new to running (coming from a competitive cycling background). Being the science nerd that I am (current PhD student), I have been doing alot of research on running form and watching videos, etc. I recently watched a youtube video analyzing the women’s boston marathon pro runners – it emphasized that the women were able to run so fast due to their ability to get maximal hip extension and bring the knee up in a “gazelle-like” fashion. When I watched this video it seemed counter-intuitive to what I had recently read about having a high cadence and quick turnover (to me it looked like they had a very large stride. Obviously I have also heard that over-striding increases injury risk. Can you possibly comment on how one can keep the recommended 180 cadence while also getting max hip extension and knees driving forward? I feel like I really need to work on my form to make gains in my pace. Granted I’m fairly new to running, but I am doing about a 7:40-8:00 avg. mi/min pace on dirt for most of my runs (5-6.5 miles, doing about 22mi/wk and 115-130mi/wk on the bike). Any advice would be appreciated. Enjoying your blog!

    • Elizabeth,

      The thing to keep in mind is those elites are running very fast, so they have a very high cadence and a long stride. The key is that they get their stride length via hip extension, and not so much by reaching out in front of the body with an extended leg. If you look at many elites at the point of initial foot contact with the ground you will see a bent knee and the shin is typically fairly vertical in orientation. If you look at a lot of recreational runners you can see them overstride with an extended knee and the ankle is well in front of the knee joint. So a long stride is not a bad thing necessarily, in fact to go fast you need to increase stride length. It’s just a matter of how you accomplish lengthening the stride.

      One other thing to keep in mind is that cadence will increase with speed, and you can mix and match different cadences and stride lengths to run at a particular speed. So a runner with a long stride and low cadence and one with a short stride and high cadence could both be running at the same speed. The latter is probably better for reducing loading to the knees and hips.

      Hope this helps!

  7. Peter-
    Interesting pilot study. Did they mention what pace they were examined at, or a %Vo2Max they were tested at?
    GG

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