Running is one of the most common forms of exercise, as millions of Americans lace up their shoes and go for a run each day. Even if you don’t consider yourself a runner, odds are you find yourself running if you play most major sports, like soccer, basketball, football or baseball. When you’re running, you want your form to be as efficient as possible in order to run faster or longer distances without an increased risk of injury, but how can you tell if your running form is ideal?
Oftentimes it’s very hard to effectively self-evaluate your running form, especially when you’re only using your eyes. That’s where the team at OrthoRehab Specialists comes in. We want to help you improve your running form using some special in-clinic technologies. In today’s blog, we explain why you should connect with a physical therapist for a running gait analysis.
Running Gait Analysis
Your running gait is probably something you don’t really think about as you do it, you simply run naturally and comfortably. This leads to a wide range of gaits and running styles. Some people have a forefoot strike running pattern, others have a heel-strike running pattern, and then there’s individual foot angle when landing. There are three types of landing foot angles when running, which are:
- Underpronated/Supinated – This pattern means that the foot rolls inward less than 15 percent when it meets the ground, and is more common among runners with high arches.
- Neutral – This pattern means that the foot rolls in 15 percent, keeping the ankle and leg in a healthy alignment.
- Overpronated – This pattern means the foot rolls inward by more than 15 percent when it meets the ground, and is more common among runners with low arches or flat feet.
All of these different running styles, strike patterns and stride lengths have their own benefits and potential issues, so it’s oftentimes wise to connect with a physical therapist to see how your form could be improved. During a gait analysis session, we’ll have you run on a special treadmill or on the ground. One of our physical therapists will analyze your form from a number of different angles, and they may also look at some data that is collected if you are hooked up to any devices while running on a treadmill. This will allow them to get a better understanding of your:
- Pronation degree
- Stride length
- Cadence
- Foot and hip angles
- Foot strike pattern
- Chest, shoulder and arm positioning and movement path
- Head position
- Landing force
- Speed
After reviewing and analyzing these factors, your physical therapist can help develop an individualized treatment plan to address any deficiencies or imbalances in your running form. Whether that involves targeting weak or tight muscles, imbalances between muscle groups or weakness in a joint like a knee or hip that is forcing other areas to take on more stress, we can help address these issues that are making you a less efficient runner.
But our work doesn’t stop there. There are a number of other aspects that play into your running form and ability. We’ll happily discuss footwear choices to help you select the right type of shoe for the type of running that you do, and we can explain how lifestyle choices like your diet and your sleep pattern can help give you the energy to go out and run or how they can make you a much less effective runner. Taken as a whole, analyzing the direct and indirect factors that affect your running stride and making some small adjustments can make you a much stronger and efficient runner. Let us help you set a new personal record or become a stronger athlete on the field with the help of our gait analysis program.
For more information about gait analysis, or for help with a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.