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Biomechanics performance research

Biomechanics changes can help — but most athletes should start with strength, cadence, and pacing.

Last updated/Feb 12, 2026, 10:18 PM

Performance Science Lab

Biomechanics lab

Biomechanics changes can help — but most athletes should start with strength, cadence, and pacing.

Start here

  • Small cues beat big form overhauls (which often increase injury risk).
  • If you change mechanics, change load too: adaptation takes time.
  • Treat drills as skill practice, not conditioning.

Study library (reference)

Individual studies for deeper reading.

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Strategies to improve running economy.

PMID 25164465 (2015): strategies, improve — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Adaptation of Running Biomechanics to Repeated Barefoot Running: A Randomized Controlled Study.

PMID 31166116 (2019): cadence, foot strike — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Running Technique is an Important Component of Running Economy and Performance.

PMID 28263283 (2017): stride — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Is There an Economical Running Technique? A Review of Modifiable Biomechanical Factors Affecting Running Economy.

PMID 26816209 (2016): stride, ground reaction — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Running economy: measurement, norms, and determining factors.

PMID 27747844 (2015): running, economy — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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A systematic review of the effect of running shoes on running economy, performance and biomechanics: analysis by brand and model.

PMID 35748066 (2023): ground reaction, foot strike — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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The Influence of Footwear Longitudinal Bending Stiffness on Running Economy and Biomechanics in Older Runners.

PMID 36094795 (2023): ground reaction, foot strike — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Changes in running economy and running technique following 6 months of running with and without wearable-based real-time feedback.

PMID 38268070 (2024): biomechanics — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Effects of a Regular Endurance Training Program on Running Economy and Biomechanics in Runners.

PMID 37802083 (2023): biomechanics — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Visual classification of running economy by distance running coaches.

PMID 32930647 (2021): visual, classification — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Similar Running Economy With Different Running Patterns Along the Aerial-Terrestrial Continuum.

PMID 27617625 (2017): foot strike, biomechanics — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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Variability in Running Economy of Kenyan World-Class and European Amateur Male Runners with Advanced Footwear Running Technology: Experimental and Meta-analysis Results.

PMID 36862339 (2023): variability, running — Running economy (study note for endurance athletes).

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