Running Assessment

A running assessment is an investment in your health

Fun runs and marathons are growing in popularity each year, with people of all ages taking part. This shows how popular running has become, even though a high percentage of runners become injured.

Common injuries include painful trauma to hips, knees, shins, ankles, and feet. Injuries can be sudden, or develop over time, as your body adjusts your range of movement to compensate for pain. Many runners compound their injuries by ignoring pain: this makes recovery times longer, and can lead to an incapacitating injury.

If you’re a runner, a physiotherapist can help you to get the most from your sport with a running assessment.

You’ll improve your form — that is, the mechanics and technique of how you run. Improving your form will not only make running easier and more fun, you’ll enhance your fitness, and lower the risk of injury.

If you’re recovering from injury, a running assessment is a practical strategy to build your strength and fitness.

A good running form is vital, and you can develop it

Exercises which are hard on your body, ranging from running to boxing and ballet, have a “form” — a way of moving — which helps you to get the most from your body. With a good form, your body moves smoothly, as a whole, rather than a collection of disjointed parts.

A good form rarely happens naturally: it takes training with exercises designed specifically for you, because we’re all different.You may be familiar with tai chi, which developed as a series of exercises to help warriors perfect their form: they exercised to become smooth killing machines and avoid death in battle.Similarly, in the equestrian arena, form is vital in dressage. In dressage training, riders improve a horse’s form: its balance, strength and range of motion. Dressage began as training which enabled heavy warhorses to carry immense weights: hundreds of kilos of armored knights into battle.Developing the correct form for you helps you to get the most from your sport, reducing injuries. For elite runners, you’ll improve your stamina and times.

Begin with a running assessment.

What’s involved in a running assessment?

A running assessment is valuable not only for athletes, but also for you, if you’re running for exercise and pleasure.

At Leap Healthcare, we have a range of modern technology which helps us to do a quantitative review of your running. We’ll use the numbers to develop exercises which will improve your form and make you stronger and fitter.

A physiotherapist who specialises in running injuries performs your assessment.

The assessment begins with a discussion of your history, and your goals for running. We’ll evaluate your lower body strength, as well as your leg strength.

Next, we’ll video you when you’re running on a treadmill.

This includes:

• A slow motion analysis of your running form and technique to identify risks.

• An assessment of the strength and the range of motion in the muscle groups involved in your running.

• Performance tests designed to improve your running economy to assess your overall biomechanical movement.

• Our technology assists your physiotherapist to develop a personal strength and conditioning program for you.

Assessments are for new runners too

What if you’ve just started running? Should you have an assessment?

You should. An assessment is the best tool for you to develop good form, as well as strength and fitness. You’ll have the advantage over experienced runners, because you won’t have engrained habits which you need to overcome.

Running assessment fees: how much does it cost?

A running assessment takes an hour.

The fee is $160. It includes the complete assessment, and a training program too.

You’ll receive a comprehensive outline of your program, with exercises you can perform at home and at Leap Healthcare. Your specialist physiotherapist will advise on a follow up assessment, which is recommended within six to eight weeks. The fee for your follow up is $90.