Running for Science

Is running good for you?

 
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Applying medical science for healthier joints in exercise

Running for Science is a medical research project that harnesses medical imaging technologies for detailed and accurate measurement, in order to reveal exactly what happens to your body when you run a marathon.

Running for Science brings together runners, scientists, doctors, orthopaedic surgeons and radiologists in a combined research project that harnesses hospital-based technologies in measuring the true physiological effects of running a marathon. It’s a collaborative project between UCL, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, St. George’s University Hospitals and Barts Health NHS Trust and Virgin London Marathon. We began with a knee study based on the 2017 London Marathon and are now conducting a hip study based on the 2019 Marathon, with further projects planned.

The idea is simple: take a mixed group of people who’ve signed up to run a marathon, analyse their bodies before and after the run and - hopefully - follow them for life. The goal is to help people run better, improving performance while reducing injury and the associated healthcare burden.

Our research has been covered extensively in journals and international media, including ‘most read’ articles in The Times in 2019.

Our research has been covered extensively in journals and international media, including ‘most read’ articles in The Times in 2019.

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 We work with charities that sustain our core team and research activities.

 We work with charities that sustain our core team and research activities.

The marathon has become the defining event of the modern running phenomenon. Yet despite the dramatic growth of sports science there’s been surprisingly little research into what running 26.2 miles can do to your body. Until now.

Our studies are revealing the exciting potential of detailed medical research on runners — in preventing injuries, improving performance, reducing the healthcare burden and enabling everyone who enjoys running to be safer, healthier and more fulfilled in training and participating.

Professor Hart

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