Relationship between the correct running technique and lower back well-being perceived by the practitioner

Running is the most popular sporting activity in the world due to its low cost and health benefits for people of all ages. It is associated with a high prevalence of injuries in the lower part of the body especially in the novice runners. Knowing the correct biomechanics and optimal running technique is very important for the prevention of such injuries.Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the correct running technique and the lower back well-being perceived by the practitioner. 96 long distance runners (27 F, 69 M; 38.13 ± 11.12 years) of which 35% trains at amateur level and 65% participates in the federal competitions, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects responded to a questionnaire requesting age, sex, weight, height, the training mode and to the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire assessing the low back disability index (%). Significant differences (p <0.05) were found between the group of female runners performing the running technique exercises and postural prevention sessions, and the one performing the running technique exercises but no postural prevention sessions (6.75 ± 2.53 vs. 1.60 ± 1.39 %, p = 0.037, f = 0.22). Our findings suggest that subjects that in their training take care of both the postural and the mechanical aspect of running, show a higher disability index than others. This could be explained by the increased perception of one's own body by the subjects who perform postural prevention sessions.