Why Gait Analysis is The Runner's Salvation

The Wall Street Journal calls Gait Analysis  "The Serious Runner's Salvation"    A recent article on the Wall Street Journal discusses the relationship between "common runners injuries" and how those runners move. "Increasingly, the runner's road to healthy joints starts with gait analysis", writes WSJ reporter Matthew Futterman."Medical boots, cortisone shots or even surgeries never solved runners' problems the way 20 minutes of being filmed on a treadmill can, experts say."  Some people claim that running is bad for you and your joints. This is not true; running  incorrectly can be bad for you and your joints. Runners often have inefficient running form due to weakness or range of motion restrictions that can lead to low back pain, Achilles tendinitis, IT band syndrome, and plantar fascitis, just to name a few. Almost always the cause of these conditions is related to  how the person is running. Taking time off, using pain medications, or changing shoes may help short term but unless the way you run is changed, some form of injury is very likely to recur. A thorough gait analysis and form correction from a physical therapist can help you eliminate and prevent running injuries as well as make you perform better. Camelback Sports Therapy's running expert, Dr. Evan Hansen offers runners of all levels the "Run Better" program. Dr. Hansen is a passionate runner and competitor and has helped many other runners achieve their goals to run further, faster and pain-free.  The Run Better program combines a video gait/running analysis with an assessment of mechanics and a personalized performance plan to increase strength and efficiency.  *Sources for this article include WSJ.com and APTA.org September 2014 Click Here for more on Camelback Sports Therapy