Running Doesn't Have To Suck! Check Out Today's Article to Learn How to Love It Again.
Open roads and bright blue skies, Wisconsinites!
If you’re finding the lack of snow on the ground is like a siren song, calling you in to the great outdoors for some long runs and an infusion of vitamin d, you’re in luck with our feature this month! We know our team is ready to get back to running on their favorite trails and enjoying long hikes, so we figured we’d share a few of the tips and tricks they’ve honed in their own lives over the years as runners and PTs.
What Makes For Good Running Form?
In order to thrive while running and avoid injury, it’s important you keep your attention upon three pivotal pieces of the puzzle. Without all three, you’ll be significantly more prone to injury, and that means less time doing the thing you love to do and more time sitting on the couch…possibly the LAST thing anyone wants to do in Wisconsin once the warm weather finally arrives.
The Three Legged Stool of Safe Running
Leg 1: Strength
Without strength, you’ll have no endurance and you will tear apart your body in no time.
Leg 2: Mobility
If you have problems with mobility or flexibility, running can wreak havoc on your body!
Your PT has lots of different ways to test this when you come in for an assessment, but one quick
way you can check this yourself is by laying down flat on a bed or table, flexing your feet towards you, and noticing how far your foot flexes.
Ideally, runners want to be able to flex their foot past the 90 degree point when laying flat, because this means that when they’re running, their foot can fully flex and extend in a stride. If the foot only flexes into that 90 degree position, there is a need for improved mobility and flexibility before safe running can occur. Have no fear! We’re here to help!
Leg 3: Stability
It is so important that you have adequate stability while running! A quick test of this is to stand with your bare feet flat on the floor, and then see if you can lift just your big toe up without the other toes on each foot. It’s harder than it sounds!
The Importance of Balance
We would be remiss if we didn’t touch upon the importance of good balance and control while running, as it is also absolutely critical for maintaining proper form while running. A quick and easy test for this is to see if you can balance on one leg while maintaining good form in the upper body (don’t let your pelvis collapse down), making sure the ankle you’re balancing on stays strong and the arch of the foot remains stable and lifted throughout the whole exercise.
Dr. Kayla Shares Even More Tips
In today’s video, Dr. Kayla explains even more about how to assess your gait and make sure all three of those legs of the “runner’s stool” are secure. Check it out below!
Schedule Your Free Running Consultation With A PT Today
Our running specialists, Dr. Kayla and Dr. Megan, and the rest of our team of highly experienced and trained experts are available to meet with you and create personalized treatment plans around your unique needs to keep you feeling your best, or helping you get back to running even if you didn’t think it was possible.
Call us at 262.264.8701 to chat with us about how we can help and get on the path to better movement, or click the button below to inquire for more information.
Life’s too short to suffer!
To your health & happiness,
Doctors Sarah and The Balance Within PT Team
P.S.
Now is an excellent time to come in for that “spring tune up” to help clear up any stiffness, soreness, or pain that may have arisen during the winter months. Throughout this whole month, we are offering a full 50% off the price of your first session whether you are completely new to our practice, or simply haven’t been in to see one of our experts in a while. To claim this excellent offer, all you need to do is hit “reply” to this email with the words “spring tune up” and we will get you scheduled right away with one of our award winning PTs at a rate you simply can’t miss.
