As the weather warms up, more New Yorkers are leaving the gym and hitting the pavement. Whether you are an expert, recreational, or new runner, there are a few things you should know before you start to rack up the miles.
You may be familiar with the phrase “be fit to run, don’t run to get fit.” This phrase should resound in runners of all levels, but especially in those just getting started. When done correctly (and safely), running has exponential cardiovascular and physical benefits; and surely will help you look beach ready. However, faulty mechanics derived from muscle imbalances, poor flexibility, insufficient strength, etc. could result in more detriments than benefits.
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of faulty mechanics until they are faced with an injury. At that time, they are forced to either decrease or stop their running program until their injury is resolved. This occurs so frequently that 79% of runners are injured annually. Common injuries from poor mechanics include Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Iliotibial Band (IT band) Syndrome, Plantar fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis, and more. Rather than wait until something breaks to fix it, why not prevent anything from breaking in the first place?
A simple running analysis performed by a qualified Physical Therapist could reveal any potential risks for injury you may have. You may wonder: Well, I run outside so if someone watches me run on a treadmill, how accurate will it be? Research shows minimal differences in running gait between treadmill and outdoor running; therefore, a treadmill provides an easy and valid gait analysis. With the help of modern technology, running analyses enable practitioners to identify areas for improvement to enable runners to achieve their peak performance while minimizing risk of injury.
If you want to take your running to the next (or first!) level, click here to schedule your one-on-one gait analysis and evaluation.
Stay tuned for our next series of blog posts addressing injury prevention, common injuries, running form, footwear, and more!