As a result, injury related to running is high with between 7 and 18 injuries reported per 1000 hours of running.
Ultimately, running is a skill and therefore requires practice and coaching to optimise performance. Novice and amateur runners are far more likely to experience a significant injury due to poor technique and conditioning.
However, with the correct analysis, followed by advice, coaching and strength and conditioning exercises we aim to optimise performance and minimise risk of injury. At Blackberry Clinic Milton Keynes we offer specialised advice in our Running Clinic. See below for what is on offer at the Running Clinic.
THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT
The initial assessment is a 1-hour consultation with a physiotherapist which will consist of 3 parts:
- Subjective assessment/running history
- Functional assessment
- Video analysis
Feedback will be provided at the end of the initial assessment and a full written report will be sent within 48 hours. Report findings will be discussed further at your first follow up appointment.
FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT
Muscle strength, joint range of movement, muscle length and kinematics (the way that you move) have been shown to impact on running form and injury risk. It is therefore vital to get baseline measures for these at the earliest point as it may guide our advice and rehabilitation.
At Blackberry Running Clinic our expert physiotherapy team will assess movement control, muscle strength and length to identify any deficit that may contribute to movement dysfunction or impact on running form. These will be carried out at the beginning of your initial consultation and will guide our initial exercise programme.
VIDEO ANALYSIS
Running is a continuous motion and therefore impossible to break down into manageable ‘chunks’. It is achieved through complex spinal, upper limb and lower limb coordination and control making it very difficult to assess in clinic without the aid of video analysis. During your initial assessment your physiotherapist will ask you to run on a treadmill and take short video clips of your running from different angles.
They will use the information gained from these videos to guide your rehabilitation. Whilst on the treadmill, the physiotherapist will count how many strides you are taking per minute (cadence) and may try to influence your running style by asking you to follow some ‘cues’. Any change in running style with these will be recorded and will be used to guide the technique coaching.
RUNNING TECHNIQUE COACHING, EDUCATION AND CONDITIONING
Based on the analysis from your initial assessment and applying the best available clinical evidence, your physiotherapist will give you advice and begin to address the possible movement dysfunctions.
The factors that your physiotherapist programme may aim to influence are:
- Muscle strength
- Movement control
- Muscle length
- Running Technique
- Education and advice
- Training programme and goal setting.
As no two runners are the same, treatment has to be tailored specifically for you and not all of these may apply. Any treatment or advice given will be followed up at reviews 1 and 6 weeks after the initial assessment. This will minimise the chance of adverse effects and ensure progress.
PACKAGE
Package 1: 1hr Initial assessment + 2x 30min follow-up sessions (1 week and 6-8 weeks) – £150
After this additional therapy sessions and running coaching will be charged at our normal rate of £48.
FURTHER TREATMENT
Your physiotherapist may recommend that you see another clinician at Blackberry Clinic for further assessment or treatment. We have specialist sports doctors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, chiropractors and podiatrists/chiropodists working as a team to manage a multitude of musculoskeletal conditions.
