Research summary · Training and performance
Uphill running does not guarantee strength or aerobic gains
This review evaluates structured uphill running against alternative training or no intervention for neuromuscular and aerobic outcomes.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
- Journal
- Medicine
- Population / context
- Running · Recreationally active adults
What the publication reports
Thirteen randomized trials with 308 participants were included and seven entered meta-analysis. Pooled estimates did not show clear improvements in knee strength, jumping or aerobic capacity, despite favourable signals in some individual outcomes.
Limits and interpretation
Certainty was low because few trials contributed to each outcome, samples were small and protocols and comparators varied. Absence of a clear pooled effect is not proof that every hill session is ineffective.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Effects of uphill running on muscle strength, jumping performance, running time, and aerobic capacity outcomes in athletes and recreational adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42536523DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049977Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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