Effects of a Cognitive Distraction Task on Gait Mechanics in Recently Gait-Retrained Runners

Background: When assessing running mechanics in a laboratory setting, there is risk for performance bias by the participants. The purpose of this study was to determine if runners who had recently undergone gait retraining altered their running mechanics while performing a cognitive distraction task. Methods: Two groups of runners were analyzed at 3 postintervention time-points for changes in vertical loadrates, cadence, and footstrike pattern. Results: Runners who received cadence retraining (CAD) did not alter cadence, but had increased loadrates when distracted. Runners who received footstrike retraining (FFS) did not alter foot angle or loadrates while distracted. However, both increases and decreases were found in cadence and foot angle in response to distraction. Conclusions: Utilizing a distraction task with gait analyses, especially post-gait retraining, is feasible and recommended.