Running with a jogging stroller is a common sight in Thailand’s parks and city streets, as active parents find creative ways to merge fitness with family time. However, new research from biomechanics experts at Penn State Berks and Alvernia University, recently detailed in The Washington Post (Washington Post), is prompting a closer look at how this practice affects the body of the person doing the pushing.
The implication is significant for Thai parents who enjoy running as a means to stay healthy while caring for young children. While stroller manufacturers and regulations tend to emphasize child safety, the physical consequences for adult runners have received much less attention—but that’s beginning to change. Overuse injuries, such as shin splints, stress fractures, and knee pain, are already concerns for runners. Introducing a jogging stroller, which presents additional weight and requires a new arm position, may change body mechanics in subtle but impactful ways. For Thailand’s running community, which includes countless parents and caretakers embracing stroller-running in Lumpini Park, Chatuchak Park, and university campuses, understanding these risks is vital.
For four years, researchers in the Biomechanics and Gait Evaluation Laboratory (BaGEL) conducted experiments with healthy adult runners. Participants completed runs both with and without a jogging stroller, while high-speed motion capture and force plates recorded every movement and impact. The primary question: how does pushing a stroller alter a runner’s gait and injury risk?
The results reveal a nuanced story. While running with a stroller alters movement, it’s not all negative. On the positive side, runners experienced an average 16% reduction in ground impact force when pushing a stroller. That’s because pressing down on the handlebars transfers some of the foot’s impact through the stroller’s wheels, easing the load on the runner’s legs. “The lower impact force could reduce the likelihood of common overuse injuries like runner’s knee,” noted the laboratory’s lead researchers.
However, there’s a flip side. The analysis recorded a 36% increase in “torsion”—the twisting force between the runner’s foot and the ground—when runners pushed a stroller. Such torsional loads are associated with stress fractures in the lower leg, a well-known overuse problem among distance runners. Holding onto stroller handlebars also restricts natural arm swing and upper body rotation, movements that typically help counterbalance each step’s twisting action. Runners also tended to lean six degrees farther forward with a stroller—beyond the slight forward lean normally recommended by coaches. According to the researchers, this exaggerated lean risks displacing the center of mass and could further heighten injury risk, particularly on hills or uneven terrain.
The study’s authors emphasize practical solutions. They suggest that runners using strollers should consciously shorten their stride and maintain a neutral posture, especially avoiding excessive forward lean. Selecting a stroller with an adjustable handlebar and a lightweight design can help minimize the need to crouch forward or overcompensate. On this note, many strollers available in the Thai market—particularly imported jogging strollers—now boast ergonomic designs, but not all may meet these criteria. Local parents should be cautious when choosing models based solely on price or child comfort.
The study did have limits; it was conducted indoors on flat terrain. The researchers are keen to pursue further investigations, including effects on slopes, uneven surfaces, and with varied pushing techniques such as one-handed operation or “push-and-chase” running styles. There’s also interest in whether hands-free or pull-behind strollers, which are less common in Thailand but available abroad, might allow a more natural gait.
For Thailand’s growing health-conscious population, these insights matter. “Safety and prevention are key,” said a senior official at a prominent Bangkok sports medicine clinic. “Understanding not just the benefits, but also the biomechanical costs of stroller running, will help runners make informed choices and potentially avoid months of frustrating injury recovery.” Another physiotherapist at a major Chiang Mai rehabilitation center added, “With the right technique and equipment, running with a stroller remains a fantastic way to support both physical and mental well-being for new parents.”
Stroller running has special relevance in Thai society given the country’s multigenerational family structures, which may see grandparents or extended family members taking part in daily childcare and routines. Urbanites in Bangkok, as well as active lifestyle communities in Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Khon Kaen, have seen a marked uptick in stroller running as part of the broader wellness trend that has swept Thailand since the pandemic—mirroring patterns seen in Europe and North America (Bangkok Post), (Thailand Medical News).
Looking ahead, advances in stroller design and runner education may further mitigate injury risks. The researchers plan to explore whether new stroller concepts can help parents maintain a more natural body position. Additionally, they aim to study how stroller running may change overall training habits and motivation, which could be particularly relevant as Thai cities invest in “Active Park” initiatives and improved running paths.
For Thai runners eager to stay healthy, several concrete recommendations emerge from this research:
- Choose a stroller with adjustable handlebars and a lightweight frame.
- Pay close attention to your running form, particularly your posture and stride length.
- Avoid excessive forward lean, especially on slopes.
- Monitor yourself for signs of overuse injuries, including shin pain, knee discomfort, or persistent soreness.
- Consult a sports medicine professional or physiotherapist if planning to take up stroller running extensively.
Finally, parents are encouraged to see stroller running as an opportunity not only for fitness, but also for mindful movement—taking advantage of Thailand’s lush green spaces while prioritizing both their own well-being and that of their children.
For more detailed information, the full published research can be found in The Washington Post coverage at washingtonpost.com, with additional commentary from sports medicine and biomechanical experts. As always, runners should remain attentive to their own bodies and embrace new knowledge for safer, healthier activity.