Effects Of Body Weight Support Treadmill On Performance In Trained Distance Runners

Bodyweight support treadmills (BWS) are popular rehabilitation tools for runners. BWS have been shown to reduce user bodyweight and ground reaction forces, which may decrease future injury risk and help athletes recover. Some athletes worry that periodic use of BWS versus standard running sessions may inhibit performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the performance effects of replacing two training sessions per week with BWS. METHODS: 8 competitive male and female distance runners were recruited for this study. Performance at baseline was determined by testing for VO2Max, running economy, and a 5 k track time trial. Participants were then randomly assigned into either the BWS or control (CON) groups. The BWS group continued typical training, except for two of their recovery training sessions per week were replaced with BWS running. The CON group continued their typical training with no modification. After 6 weeks, both groups repeated the measurements from baseline to determine if any changes occurred. RESULTS: No significant time-based changes occurred for VO2Max, running economy, or time trial (p = 0.306, p = 0.278, p = 0.721; respectively). There were no group and time interactions for the performance markers VO2Max, running economy, or time trial (p = 0.134, p = 0.957, p = 0.926; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that twice weekly use of BWS in place of over ground running sessions will not have a detrimental effect on performance in competitive distance runners.