The role of muscle coordination during running

We want to understand how people move when they run and why people run the way they do. If we can understand running in more depth, we can provide immediate feedback to people who may not have optimal postural control and muscle coordination which may put them at greater risk of injury. Ultimately, we aim to develop new biofeedback treatments. This will involve providing information through verbal cues or on a computer screen to help people change their running style. The idea behind this approach is to get muscles to activate at the right time during running. This will reduce pressure on the leg joints and hopefully prevent running injuries.

It is up to you to decide. Please read this information sheet and contact us if you have any queries. If you decide to take part, you will be free to withdraw at any time, without giving a reason.

Once you have read this document and have no objections, we will ask you to sign a consent form to confirm you agree to take part in the study. The study will take place in the Mary Seacole Lab at the University of Salford. You will be required to participate in shorts, sports bra (if applicable) and running trainers for the study. You will complete a running history form detailing your performance times, injury history and current levels of training, as well as a medical questionnaire to ensure there is no risk to your health during participation. The tasks will be explained to you before starting and if you or the physiotherapist conducting the testing deems you are unable to complete the next part of testing, tests will be stopped.

We will attach Electromyography (EMG) electrodes over your back, hip muscles, front and back and thighs and front and back of muscles around your shin. Before these electrodes are attached, we will remove any excess hair with a disposable razor and then remove dead skin with an exfoliating cream. In order to accurately identify the location of the muscles on the inside of your thigh, we will use an ultrasound scan. This will involve applying ultrasound gel to the area. This is a non-invasive measurement performed with a probe which produces an image of the muscle just under your skin. An assistant will be present during the set up. Subsequently, you will be required to perform maximum contractions which will target each muscle the EMG is applied to, this will be the first part of the data collection. You will be given enough time for recovery in between contractions and afterwards and testing will stop immediately if you do not wish to continue with maximal contractions.

The biofeedback will involve verbal cues given to you to change your posture slightly (e.g., forward lean) whilst running to activate specific muscles at precise moments. From these changes in running style, we will observe if changes occur in the timing of muscle activation patterns, and whether this has improved or worsened your muscle coordination during running.

You will be required to perform some running drills as part of the study. This is essentially a warmup routine aiming to engage your muscles to improve form, movement patterns, and muscle memory. The way of performing these running drills will be explained and taught to you on the day. This will not be strenuous activity, but we will give you sufficient time to practice and have breaks in between at any point if necessary.

You may have to perform a Thomas Test so we can assess range of movement at your hip whilst comparing this to your physical activity patterns. This will give us context, so we are aware of your physical capabilities before we start testing you when running. The Thomas Test will involve you sitting on the edge of a plinth, bringing one knee to your chest and gently lying back fully on the plinth whilst keeping hold of your knee.

To ensure any risk of further injury is avoided (if you are participating as an injured runner) you are only allowed to complete testing if you are currently able to run and continuing to run. This is to  ensure you are able to complete the minimal requirements for the study testing procedures outlined. If any there are any exacerbation of symptoms during the running trials, you should  report this to the lead researcher and testing will be stopped immediately. If you are currently injured and not receiving medical attention we recommend a formal consultation with a physiotherapist or sports injury specialist such as the University Sports Injury Clinic: https://www.salford.ac.uk/our-facilities/sports-injury-clinic

We will provide you with a running report free of charge, giving you advice and management for your running style. This can be provided to you after the trials have been completed.

We are not able to pay participants to take part.

This will be a routine and straightforward assessment. However, as with any activity there are risks. Physical exertion may lead to muscle/joint injury and/or cardiovascular risk/fainting. You will complete a health screening form, if any health risks are identified testing will be ceased. Falling or tripping could potentially lead to a muscular injury or worsen your injury if you are currently injured. To minimise this you will be allowed to complete your own pre activity warm up and can stop testing at any point if you choose to do so. The environment will be assessed by the lead researcher prior to testing, if tripping hazards are identified they will be removed. The use of tape may lead to skin irritation or an allergic reaction. To avoid skin irritation a hypoallergenic tape (Micropore) will be used. The Lead Researcher is a qualified Physiotherapist and is therefore able to manage any issues that may arise in the unlikely circumstances.

As explained above, you will receive a report and guidance on how to improve your running style. You will also be contributing in the development to a new approach in physiotherapy management including swift treatment for injured runners to return to what they love. This will ensure more of the population can stay active and the maintain good general health.

This study is funded by and is being led by the University of Salford.

All data collected will be kept anonymous to ensure you cannot be identified, stored on a password protected university cloud system (OneDrive) and accessible only by the lead researcher. To maintain anonymity your biomechanical data will be given a unique code number with only the initial consent form including your name.   

Following completion of the study, data may be used in the research dissemination process such as through research publications and conference presentations. All information included within this process will be anonymous and will not be identifiable.

You can stop being part of the study at any time, without giving a reason, but we will keep information about you that we already have. We need to manage your records in specific ways for the research to be reliable. This means that we won’t be able to let you see or change the data we hold about you. If you want to withdraw, please notify the study representative listed in the “Contact Information” section below.

You can find out more about how we use your information at https://www.salford.ac.uk/privacy or by asking one of the research team.

The university has insurance to cover against any harm to you which may occur whilst you are taking part in these tests. However, if you decide to take legal action, you may have to pay for this. If you wish to complain, or have any concerns about any aspect of the way you have been approached or treated during the course of this study, you can contact the lead academic supervisor, Dr Chris Bramah via email: c.a.bramah@salford.ac.uk and if you are not happy you may then contact MS Katy Szczepura, Ethics Chair, Mary Seacole Building, University of Salford, M5 4WT on 0161 295 5000 or email: K.Szczepura@salford.ac.uk. If you have concerns with regards to how your data is collected and stored then contact Andrew Hartley, Data Protection Officer, Legal and Governance Directorate, Maxwell 6th floor, University of Salford, M5 4WT on 0161 295 6428 or email: a.hartley2@salford.ac.uk.

If you require more information about the study, want to participate, or if you are already participating and want to withdraw, please contact:
Name:                                                  Joseph Liddy
Email:                                                j.liddy@edu.salford.ac.uk
Address:                                              The School of Health and Society, The University of Salford, Brian Blatchford Building, Salford, M6 6PU