A running evaluation at Phoenix Physical Therapy & Sports Performance includes a thorough review of your injury history followed by a comprehensive musculo-skeletal screening which is tailored specifically to your current injury or injury history. While we will provide a diagnosis of your injury, our primary goal at Phoenix Physical Therapy & Sports Performance is to establish any cause and compensation in the form of joint restrictions and muscle weakness that are often precursors to the development of the common running injuries such as Achilles Tendinopathies, Plantar Fasciitis, Medial Tibial stress syndrome (Shin Splints), Patello-Femoral Pain Syndrome and Ilio-Tibial Band Syndrome (Runners Knee) to name just a few.
Video Analysis
A video analysis is used to acquire the fundamental parameters of the your running gait. A reversible treadmill and cameras mounted to the rear and side allows a 360 degree recording of your running style. This allows Phoenix Physical Therapy & Sports Performance to quantify underlying mechanical inefficiencies, tissue stress, identify incorrect movement patterns and target areas where efficiency can be improved.
Current camera technology allows recording of barefoot and shod running from all directions. The recordings are then analyzed in meticulous detail using Templo software from Contemplas.
The software will be used to analyze your current running technique as faulty technique can often be a cause of injury or exacerbate an existing injury. By addressing these faults we can decrease tissue stress allowing symptoms to resolve and often with some simple technique modification we can use running as part of your rehabilitation. Key control points addressed in your analysis include pelvic stability, over-crossing and hip, knee and foot kinematics.
Running Injury Analysis Feedback
After your assessment, you will be given focused exercises dependent on your injury which can be integrated into your current training schedule. Technique modification drills may also be given to decrease tissue stress as well as technique correction drills to help improve efficiency and performance.
You will receive personal and manufacturer-independent shoe and insole/orthoses advice adapted to your bio-mechanical profile. The results of your structural assessment and movement analysis will be taken into consideration when prescribing the ideal insole.
An individualized rehabilitation program will be provided. Specific mobility exercises to remove restrictions and strengthening exercises to address muscle weakness will be provided along with low level plyometrics to improve lower limb stiffness and technique drills to improve the “skill of running”.