Research Summary by Louis Ellery
How fixing your walk fixes your knee
Runners with patellofemoral pain received 8 sessions of gait coaching with mirror feedback. The result: reduced hip internal rotation, improved pelvic control, and meaningful pain reductions that persisted weeks later.
The body learned a new motor program — a different way of moving — and pain decreased as a result. This demonstrates that lasting change occurs through motor learning rather than temporary cueing.
Pelvic drop, hip rotation timing, and trunk mechanics dictate force absorption. When these elements improve through integrated retraining, the knee experiences less overload.
Whole-body gait mechanics directly influence knee pain. Hip and pelvic sequencing outweighs localised knee exercises. Motor learning creates durable improvements that persist after coaching ends.
Available at pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3501612.
Apply the Research
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