Running Analysis

Running Analysis at MyPhysio

If you are suffering from or experiencing recurring running-related injuries then Running Analysis is for you. If running hurts you then it must be assessed, you can stretch and strengthen your muscles but if you run in a way that aggravates your injury then alterations to your running technique are required.

Certain movement patterns when running will overload parts of the body, if this is not rectified then do not expect your injury to go by just resting. Take control of your injury and understand why it reoccurs and learn how to alleviate your pain.

A full assessment of your breathing pattern, pelvic control, mobility and stability of all joints is performed prior to recording your running. This will give your Chartered Physiotherapist an insight into what may be creating poor movement patterns when you run. Analysis of your running technique will be carried out using running analysis software. Running cues to alter technique will be given and running technique will be recorded again to enable a comparison of before and after.

Following the analysis, you will receive your recording with voice-over commentary, personalised video running drills and an individual 4-week running plan to implement the changes. A review of the running technique is scheduled for a later date.

MyPhysio Running Analysis uses a 3 step approach to making you a more robust and efficient runner

Step 1

  • Breathing patterns
  • Pelvic control

Step 2

  • Joint mobility
  • Muscle stability

Step 3

  • Motor control running technique drills
  • Sunconcious carryover in running technique
MyPhysio Running Analysis

It may sound obvious but breathing correctly is incredibly important. A lot of people who I see at the clinic tend to use accessory muscles excessively to breathe instead of the primary muscle to aid breathing i.e. The Diaphragm. Poor breathing patterns will ask huge demands from muscles that are not designed to do so, this can cause the infamous stitch or even pain far away from that area. Breathing efficiently will allow the optimum length-tension relationship between your core muscles, having this with ideal pelvic control will be the cornerstone for the injury-free runner.

Put simply, you must have a minimum amount of joint mobility and stability to run regularly and freely. So often, I hear this history of injured runners, ‘It was after my first interval session I began to feel it’ or ‘I increased my weekly mileage and it started then’. These types of runners often present with, for example, poor hip mobility and struggle to do a single-leg squat. They have been getting away with this lack of mobility and stability simply because their body adapted and compensated, however, once the training load increased they were caught out. Working on basic mobility and stability patterns as part of a warm-up or a gym programme is key to avoiding injury.

The only thing that will change how you run is practising how to run differently. Working on progressively difficult running drills to alter how you move is a process that will challenge you. Stripping you right back to jogging on the spot and short sets of running drills. I want to challenge your Central Nervous System, ask it to control your body efficiently and as the old saying goes, ‘Practice makes perfect’, the more you practice a task the better you will get at it. Think of running as a skill, you need to be taught how to run efficiently.

Of course, building the Robust Runner is not easy but following Steps 1-3 will allow you the best chance to run regularly and freely.

Start becoming a Robust Runner by contacting MyPhysio or call 083 478 1639. You can also Book Online. Have a read of these Testimonials from people who are benefiting from the MyPhysio approach.

MyPhysio Running Analysis