Mitchell et al. 2025, surface compliance and running biomechanics meta-analysis

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 articles (22 in the quantitative synthesis, n = 392) examining the effect of surface compliance on overground running biomechanics. Peak tibial acceleration was significantly lower on softer surfaces (p = 0.01), but peak vertical ground reaction force, loading rate, and ground contact time did not differ significantly between hard and soft surfaces. The selective reduction in tibial acceleration — a marker of bone stress injury risk — on softer ground suggests surface choice may matter for tibial loading even when overall impact forces appear unchanged. Published in Sports Biomechanics (DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2023.2236058). Moderate evidence.