Foot Strike Run Retraining for Patients With Patellofemoral Chondral Defects: A Case Series.

This article focuses on the clinical application of foot strike run retraining for active duty U.S. Marine Corps service members (SMs) diagnosed with patellofemoral chondral defects (PFCDs), a cartilage injury that can lead to osteoarthritis and impair running ability. In a case series of two SMs, eight sessions of run retraining successfully shifted their foot strike pattern from rearfoot to non-rearfoot, resulting in reduced knee pain, improved function as measured by patient-reported outcomes, increased running tolerance, and significant reductions (63–70%) in vertical ground reaction force loading rates. These findings suggest that modifying foot strike pattern may be a feasible conservative strategy to decrease mechanical knee loading and potentially slow disease progression in SMs who must maintain running for occupational duties. The study highlights the need for further research to confirm long-term benefits and applicability to broader populations with knee cartilage degeneration.