A Running Clinic at Elephant Park in the heart of zone 1.

A Running Clinic at Elephant Park in the heart of zone 1.

Did you know that the 80% of running injuries are caused by repetitive strain and overuse? This is because while running with each strike our legs react to loading forces which are 1.5 to 3 times our bodyweight. Beginner runners are 2.2 times at risk for injury and the 50% of them once injured won’t return to running after.

Maria is a Consultant Physiotherapists and Osteopaths is also a Running Technique Specialist. She has undergone post graduate training to be able to understand more in depth the biomechanics of running and functionally assess any impairment that may affect it.

A session at the running clinic starts with an in-clinic initial assessment at Elephant Park in the Kennington Osteopaths and Physiotherapy Clinic. This initial consultation allows the practitioner to gather information around your running complaints, examine you and create a treatment plan.

The examination phase includes:

- postural assessment

- flexibility and range of motion assessment

- any special joint or spinal tests deemed necessary

- strength endurance

- balance and proprioception.

- functional assessment of running movement patterns.

A running specialist assessment should be considered necessary for anyone who wishes to start running (and hasn't done this before) or to return to running after a period of inactivity. Women post pregnancy are a perfect example of this as it becomes crucial to consider how the changes that maternity brings with it might affect your body. Running shouldn't be taken up any earlier than 4/6 months postpartum but seeking the advice of a qualified practitioner well in advance could make a big difference in facilitating and speeding up the achievement of your running goals.

All level runners can benefit from a running specialist assessment to gather more insight into their running technique and learn how to master it in order to prevent and address injuries as well as improving performance.

An outdoor assessment might follow the indoor assessment. This will address:

- running gait video analysis.

- balance and proprioception.

- agility.

- reactivity, power, endurance.

- speed

- aerobic fitness?

- anaerobic fitness?

Following the assessment Maria will discuss with you her findings and treatment options which might include a combination of manual osteopathic treatment, exercise plan as well as outdoor running technique training session.