In prior posts we have described the importance of running economy. Runners with improved economy, similar to miles per gallon in a car, will be able to run at lower percentage of their VO2 max at a given intensity compared to a less economical runner. Economical runners demonstrate improved performance in both training and competition....
In an attempt to reduce the high risk of running injuries, athletes are making changes to their strike patterns and shoe wear. Running trends towards minimalist shoes have attempted to move athletes away from a heel strike and toward a more mid or forefoot strike pattern. These strike patterns have been shown to reduce loading...
In our previous posts we have detailed many factors leading to high injury rates experienced among runners. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, one of the most important factors to examine with any injured runner is their running gait. Most of us were instructed as beginners in our chosen sports with the exception of cycling...
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise due to its’ accessibility, low equipment cost, and health benefits. As running’s popularity continues to grow, unfortunately so do the number of runners who miss a training session or competition due to injury. These runners are not alone; as research has reported up to 90%...
Running remains one of the most popular forms of exercise due to its’ affordability, accessibility, and health benefits. The popularity of the sport has grown tremendously over the last few decades, but despite advancements in shoe wear, training methods, and rehabilitation interventions the injury rates remain frustratingly high. Up to 90% of runners will report...
Running is one of the most popular sports in Boulder, Colorado with many individuals taking advantage of our many trail options. In general, run workouts can focus on short duration, higher intensity sprints performed as intervals or longer duration, sustained low to moderate intensity distance runs. Each training option promotes beneficial changes in the body...
Triathlon athletes have varying distances to compete in from shorter sprint races to longer Ironman distance events. As the events progress from sprint to Olympic to Ironman distance the percentage of time spent in each discipline (swim, bike, run) adjusts with the distance. Research has shown when comparing the Olympic and Ironman distances athletes will...
In our previous posts on running shoes we have described the limitations of orthotics and shoe wear to alter foot, ankle, or knee mechanics during gait. Despite the hype and claims shoes have been unable to significantly improve running mechanics compared to proximal interventions including hip strengthening and gait retraining by a Physical Therapist. The...
The use of foot orthotics are commonly prescribed for many lower quarter conditions including running injuries, foot and ankle pain, and even low back pain. As we have described in previous posts off the shelf orthotics perform as well as more expensive custom orthotics, but overall their impact on many conditions is limited. When compared to...
Knee arthritis is a common condition among older adults leading to increased knee pain and decreased participation in recreational and sporting activities. A incorrect, but commonly held belief is exercise may lead to further arthritis or knee damage due to a “wear and tear” effect. This outdated line of thought has been disproven by many research...