UPMC Sports Medicine presents the running assessment for runners at all levels. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just jogging for fun, a running injury doesn’t have to slow you down. Running assessments are ideal for runners who would like to better their overall performance and form, while also preventing injury.
What is Included in a Running Assessment?
- One-on-one discussion: You will review your personal running and injury history.
- Lower extremity evaluation: Lower extremity musculoskeletal screens will be performed by physical therapists and athletic trainers. This evaluation tests core strength, flexibility, and single-leg strength.
- Treadmill evaluation at a self-selected pace: As you move on the treadmill, a biomechanical risk assessment is conducted where gait, stride length, hip drop, and initial knee and foot position are evaluated.
The treadmill evaluation is broken into four components:
- Running history: We gather information about footwear and running distance and perform an evaluation of lower extremity and core muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility.
- Running analysis: We video record your running gait while simultaneously gathering information on running components, such as cadence and heart rate. During the analysis of running gait, you will run on a treadmill as we film you from two points of view, and you will be able to watch your gait in real time on the screen in front of you. The first is the side view, where we gather information on vertical inclination angle and trunk lean. The second is the posterior view, which provides us information on pelvic drop, crossover, pushoff, and knee position. All of this information allows us to determine which muscles need to be specifically targeted so that strength and endurance can be gained and running injury can be prevented.
- Running review: We upload your running gait video to a program called Kinovea. This program allows us to measure precise angles in order to further determine exactly what components of your running gait should be altered.
- Running revision: After gathering an analysis of your running gait and performing the full evaluation, the appropriate exercises are prescribed to you in order to address your individual impairments and to help you attain a more optimal running pattern.
Any deficits in strength and/or flexibility found during the running assessment will be addressed with corrective exercise demonstrations. Gait retraining can play an important role in the treatment of many common running injuries including knee pain, IT band syndrome, and tibial stress fractures. By providing guidance in proper form, running assessments can reduce pain and risk of injury, and improve strength and performance.
This service is available to all runners. Whether you are a casual neighborhood runner or an experienced marathon runner, the running assessment can help you understand how to run efficiently, avoid injury, and train successfully. View the videos below to learn more.
General Running Assessment
Running Assessment for Beginner Runners
Running Assessment for Experienced Runners
A running assessment may qualify as physical therapy, which is often covered by health insurance, or as a sports performance service, which typically is not covered. Consult your insurance plan if you have questions about your coverage.
UPMC Sports Medicine is equipped to manage all of your running needs. We offer a full scope of services to help runners train, recover, and prevent injury. In addition to the running assessment, runners may benefit from our Physical Therapy, Sports Nutrition or Sports Performance services. Visit UPMCSportsMedicine.com to learn more, or call 1-855-93-SPORT (77678) to schedule an appointment.