Overview
- A PLOS One paper published Aug. 12 reports that parents who ran with a stroller were less likely to report an overuse injury in the first three years after becoming a parent compared with those who ran without a stroller.
- Among 196 stroller runners and 53 non-stroller runners, 19% of stroller users reported an overuse injury versus 30% of non-stroller users, and stroller runners had a 55% lower injury rate per 1,000 miles.
- Researchers attribute the lower injury rates to biomechanical changes from pushing a stroller—shorter stride, forward lean, reduced torso rotation and slower pace—that 'unweight' the body and cut vertical impact on joints.
- The study also found stroller users logged 34% more miles when their child was 6–12 months old, suggesting strollers make it easier for parents to maintain running in early parenthood.
- Authors caution the results are from a retrospective web survey with a small, mostly female sample and missing factors like breastfeeding and additional children, and they plan follow-up studies to test causation and motivation.