The role of hip abductor strengthening and the effects on running gait. A systematic review

Running-related overuse injuries (RROI) are often associated with diminished hip strength, leading to exercise-based interventions to improve hip abductor strength in runners. However, the effects of hip strength training methods on the determinants of running biomechanics have not been adequately reviewed. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to examine whether increases in hip abductor strength result in changes in running kinematics and other gait parameters. Specifically, it focuses on (i) the impact of strength training protocols on hip strength and (ii) the effects on biomechanical gait variables following strength training. Methods: A systematic review across four databases (Sports Discuss, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed) included studies up to October 2024, with eligibility criteria targeting adult participants who underwent hip strength training and measured running gait variables pre- and post-strength training. Five studies met the inclusion criteria, totalling 144 participants aged 18–65, with various strength intervention durations (3–10 weeks) and training loads. Results indicated that strength training could enhance hip strength with relatively few sessions, but there is limited evidence that these gains translate into changes in running biomechanics associated with RROI. Only a subset of studies reported correlations between hip strength improvements and alterations in biomechanical variables, such as knee abduction and hip adduction. Overall, the evidence is insufficient to confirm that hip abductor strength improvements lead to biomechanical changes in running gait and, therefore, require additional interventions to be considered.