Running Analysis and Advanced Physical Therapy Treatment for Running Injuries
Running is a popular sport that offers numerous benefits including improved fitness and cardiovascular health, personal satisfaction, and a sense of community. It’s also a high-impact activity that repeatedly applies forces to the body. Overuse injuries of the lower body are common in runners.
Some of the more common running injuries we see include:
* Hip pain
* Knee injuries, with anterior knee injuries being extremely common
* Runner’s knee, which is associated with overstriding
* Stress fractures
* Foot conditions like overpronation, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis
Running analysis is used to better understand a runner’s gait, cadence, foot-strike, and injury potential so that we can intervene and prevent potential running injuries. If you’ve already been injured, running analysis is an essential tool in your rehabilitation. Running analysis is also a helpful tool in improving sports performance.
A Few Tips to Reduce the Likelihood of Running Injuries
Cross-train — Running is great, but if you’re just starting out, you’ll want to alternate it with other activities such as swimming or weight training. This gives your joints a rest while also helping to build your endurance. Strength training should become a regular part of your fitness regimen as it strengthens your core, improves flexibility, and helps with coordination.
Pay attention to your feet — Running shoes are this sports’ main equipment. A good pair will serve you well while a bad fit or poor choice could cause harm, so don’t skimp here. If you notice new pain in your feet (whether with your old or new shoes), pay attention! Stress to the feet can be cumulative, leading to pain or even fractures.
Schedule a running analysis by a physical therapist — Like you, we’d rather prevent injuries than encounter them. Running analysis is a simple test where you’ll be observed and filmed running on a treadmill. A physical therapist will analyze your gait using sophisticated software that helps us to identify the improper form, areas of misalignment, muscle weakness, and other issues that could cause pain or injury.
We will utilize our state of the art system:
dosaVi sensor technology
RUN Program
Sophisticated running analysis without the need for a gait analysis lab.
The patent-protected algorithms deliver precise outputs including:
Ground reaction force
Symmetry
Initial peak acceleration
Speed
Ground contact time
Cadence
Measure and compare the impact of variables such as:
Speed
Gradient
Footwear
Surface
Running technique
Measure performance out on the road in real run conditions and on the treadmill in the gym.
