Physical therapists can make an objective gait and analysis, which runners can easily see via high-quality video footage.
Request AppointmentWhether you are looking to set a new personal record or simply get started, video gait analysis can help you optimize your running form and prepare your body for running. It can also help you to choose the right running shoes, and prevent injuries before they occur.
Runners have about a 50 percent chance of getting an injury that interrupts their training schedule. Among marathon runners, studies have placed the injury incidence rate significantly higher, in some cases as high as 90 percent. For those who are trying to adhere to a strict schedule in preparation for a big race, this can be a debilitating situation.
Studies have shown that it isn’t running itself that’s doing the damage, but the way people run. Runners who stride too far out in front of their bodies, or land with their legs at awkward angles run the risk of hurting themselves, forcing an interruption in training.
Video gait analysis can be a lifesaver for runners, because it can let them know what they are doing wrong, which can be corrected with a change in mechanics and proper shoes.
Video gait analysis seeks to identify the root of an injury, or a bad habit that may lead to one. It usually starts with an evaluation of strength and flexibility that includes some manipulation on an examination table and a series of exercises, followed by a running session on a treadmill in front of a video camera.
The program can identify any problem that might be the root of a recurring injury. Here’s how it helps runners:
Video gait analysis uses software to make assessments of running style. The software can help runners find issues by highlighting biomechanical patterns with angles, measurements, and drawing shapes for precise feedback. Physical therapists can make an objective gait and analysis, which runners can easily see via high quality video footage.
IMPACT Physical Therapy is proud to help runners improve their efficiency and form. Prevent an injury before it is too late by making an appointment today.
A Runners’ Analysis provides crucial information for runners, including:
The goal of a runners’ analysis is to find the right running shoe to make running more comfortable and efficient. Wearing the right shoe for your specific running style can help prevent future injury.
The information you will get from a runners’ analysis is important no matter how long you have been running. It is the only truly effective way to be 100% sure you are wearing the right running shoe.
The major focus of runner’s analysis is to measure the degree of pronation, which is the natural inward roll of the foot as the outside part of the heel strikes the ground. This roll acts as a shock absorber for the leg and body, distributing the force of the impact of the heel hitting the ground.
Overpronation happens when the feet roll inward too much; underpronation (or supination) happens when the feet don’t roll inward enough. A runners’ analysis matches the degree of pronation with the correct shoe type, with the aims of counter-balancing over or underpronation. As a result, this helps reduce the risk of injury and improves running efficiency.
A runners’ analysis involves running on a treadmill while a video is made of your feet. This footage is then analyzed in detail. Armed with the correct information, runners can then try a variety of shoes, selecting cushioning, structured cushioning or maximum support options according to the results.
As well as helping runners find the right shoe through assessing the movement of the foot, this analysis also looks at the leg and body’s movement to help the runner improve their efficiency. By slowing the video down and viewing the different running stages in detail, therapists can identify certain movements which may be triggering injuries or affecting running efficiency.
Once a runner understands their running style, gait and which type of shoe they need, they can be on their way to a lifetime of safe running.
At IMPACT Physical Therapy, we want the best for all of our patients. Our therapists are fully trained in runners’ analysis, helping our athletic patients get the most out of each run. If you are interested in improving your running technique and getting shoes that help you rather than hurt you, then contact IMPACT Physical Therapy today.
Champaign , Hinsdale , Lakeview , South Loop ,
Preventing or recovering from an injury can be difficult. Let IMPACT Physical Therapy help you get back in the game with our expert Physical Therapists. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
Request Appointment
