Do you suffer from persistent niggles and injuries from running? Do you find that even after rest, injuries return or don’t properly recover? Is your running hampered by plantar fasciitis, achilles tendon pain, tight calves, runners knee or hip and groin pain?
The answer may well be poor or faulty biomechanics. Biomechanics is the study of body movement and structure.
Running well requires smooth symmetrical motion that allows the body to absorb and dissipate the large forces that it encounters every time you make contact with the ground. It sounds easy, but if something somewhere is not doing its job or there is an imbalance between muscle groups, then sooner or later there is going to be a problem.
Whether as an activity on its own or a component to your sport, running plays a crucial role in the practice of most sports, which is why getting it right is so important.
Running analysis and biomechanical assessment isn’t just about looking at your feet and deciding what type of new trainers you should buy. Although the type of footwear can make a difference, it shouldn’t stop there.
The only true way of assessing someone’s reason or risk for injury, or to help improve their performance, is to analyse their whole body’s movements. We do this to gain the most detailed understanding of how your body works when running and how we can make it better.
Maximising your performance and minimising any pain is our goal. To do this we will identify any biomechanical faults using a series of tests and movement screening programmes, and assess your running technique and running economy. Once we have identified these areas of concern, we work with you to put together a biomechanical ‘action plan’ for injury prevention and improved performance. This allows you to run with greater control, avoid early fatigue and reduce the amount of energy you spend to run a set distance.
On the day, bring your training gear, your new and old running shoes, any insoles or orthotics, your training diary and your usual work/daytime footwear.
For more information, or to arrange to see one of our specialist sports physiotherapists please contact us today.