Cadence control training alters patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners

Cadence control training alters patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Cadence control training alters patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners Gang Ma, Chuanbao Cao, Xu Wang, Hai Bo, Peng Peng, Kaili Shao This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8898009/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week cadence control training program on patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing running strategies and reducing running-related injury risk. Methods A total of 44 recreational runners were randomly assigned to a control (n = 22) and an experimental group (n = 22). The former performed conventional running training, while the latter underwent cadence control training for 12 weeks. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were collected before and after the intervention using the Simi Motion capture system and Kistler force platforms, respectively. Patellofemoral joint mechanical parameters and joint work contribution ratios were subsequently calculated. Result Post-training, the experimental group exhibited a significant increase in cadence and positive ankle joint work contribution, accompanied by significant reductions in step length, patellofemoral joint stress, and knee joint work contribution compared with pre-training values. Conclusion Twelve weeks of cadence control training significantly modified the patellofemoral joint mechanics and joint work distribution in runners. An increased cadence reduced patellofemoral joint loading and induced a distal shift in the relative contribution of lower-limb joint work from proximal to distal segments, which may represent a biomechanical mechanism underlying the alleviation of knee joint load. Therefore, cadence-increasing running strategies are recommended, particularly for runners experiencing patellofemoral pain, to mitigate the risk of knee joint injury. Cadence control training Patellofemoral joint stress Joint work contribution Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8898009","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":608326762,"identity":"246d140a-7512-4874-adf5-c3992cb2c9bf","order_by":0,"name":"Gang Ma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gang","middleName":"","lastName":"Ma","suffix":""},{"id":608326763,"identity":"c1d5d224-3163-40ab-8ad4-a3d540fa3b4c","order_by":1,"name":"Chuanbao Cao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Hebei Sport 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contribution","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8898009/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8898009/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eObjective\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week cadence control training program on patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing running strategies and reducing running-related injury risk.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 44 recreational runners were randomly assigned to a control (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;22) and an experimental group (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;22). The former performed conventional running training, while the latter underwent cadence control training for 12 weeks. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were collected before and after the intervention using the Simi Motion capture system and Kistler force platforms, respectively. Patellofemoral joint mechanical parameters and joint work contribution ratios were subsequently calculated.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResult\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePost-training, the experimental group exhibited a significant increase in cadence and positive ankle joint work contribution, accompanied by significant reductions in step length, patellofemoral joint stress, and knee joint work contribution compared with pre-training values.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwelve weeks of cadence control training significantly modified the patellofemoral joint mechanics and joint work distribution in runners. An increased cadence reduced patellofemoral joint loading and induced a distal shift in the relative contribution of lower-limb joint work from proximal to distal segments, which may represent a biomechanical mechanism underlying the alleviation of knee joint load. Therefore, cadence-increasing running strategies are recommended, particularly for runners experiencing patellofemoral pain, to mitigate the risk of knee joint injury.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Cadence control training alters patellofemoral joint mechanics and lower-limb joint work distribution in runners","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-19 19:52:10","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8898009/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a54238aa-e541-4675-b234-219dc566adf3","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 19th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-21T08:40:36+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-19 19:52:10","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8898009","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8898009","identity":"rs-8898009","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}