Why Running Parents Should Grab the Stroller

Parents who log miles behind a jogging stroller may be doing their joints a favor. A study in PLOS One finds runners who pushed strollers while their kids were under 4 were less likely to report overuse injuries than those who ran solo: 19% versus 30%, with stroller runners seeing a 55% lower injury rate per 1,000 miles. Researchers say the stroller appears to redirect some impact from the legs into the hands and wheels, and past work shows it shortens stride and lowers vertical impact forces, per Smithsonian.

The new study, based on self-reported data from 249 largely female runners, is small and leaves questions about factors like pushing style. Still, co-author Allison Altman-Singles calls stroller running a practical way to stay active, and the study found stroller runners logged more miles overall. All participants were runners who covered at least five miles per week before the birth of their first child, per the Washington Post. A Cleveland dad who may have just claimed a world record with his mile-long stroller run notes that children need head and neck control before going along for the ride.