The merits of a great video
We all picture ourselves to look like as graceful and effortless as the most famous of marathoners. However, how often do our bubbles burst when we see a photo or a video at the fun-run finish line?
Running ( and walking for the non-runners) biomechanics play an important role in the development of injuries in active individuals. When pain and the physical examination findings are in agreement with abnormalities observed in a biomechanics running analysis, it serves as a great tool for intervention. What exercises, what running cues, what change in shoes may allow for this person to walk and run injury free?
Here are a few common issues we see in runners that really set up a risk of the body breaking down, being less efficient and potentially becoming injured. Perhaps you see yourself doing one of more of these when you run? Or perhaps you don't!
Why not have a friend film you and have it looked at by our physio team? A short 30 second video from the side and from the rear would be all you need, so grab your phone and shoot away!
Excessive pelvic drop. Image B shows the dropping or dumping of a pelvis.
- The cause? Weakness across the glutes and pelvis.
- The effect? Outer hip pain, knee pain, glut tendonopathy, lower back overloading
Rear foot instability. Image A shows a normal, B abnormal degree of heel pronation and instability.
- The cause? Poor shoe choice with inappropriate hind foot guidance and control, tight calf and stiff foot joints.
- The effect? Where do we start? Foot, knee, Achilles, hip, lower back issues.
Over-striding. Image A shows good hip-ankle alignment while B shows the ankle too far forward from center of gravity.
- The cause? Poor trunk posture being too upright, tight hip flexors, poor running technique and awareness
- The effect? Higher ground reaction forces and poorer energy absorption, resulting in overloading of foot, knee, hip and back.
Knee angle at foot fall. Image A shows a very extended knee, when images B and C show the preferred land on a soft or slightly flexed knee.
- The cause? Over-striding, trunk too upright and poor running awareness
- The effect? Load impact forces are greater on the knee, potentially causing pain and stress fractures
Foot strike pattern. Forefoot vs midfoot vs hindfoot.
The jury is till out and research still continues into this well discussed topic among runners. It is believed by many that injury risk is less in the forefoot striker (image A) as it brakes and absorbs the ground reaction force force more efficiently.
So grab a friend a get filming. We would love to see and help your analysis and share exercise/tips and shoe advice, so contact us to make an appointment.
Reference: Souza, R.B, An eveidence based videotaped running biomechanical analysis (2016)
