Evaluation of Running Form

A.  Foot Biomechanics

      1.  Foot strike position
              - midfoot or forefoot strike with brief supination
              - heel strikes and maintains supination
              - foot pronates as moves from lateral to medial
              - toe off with brief supination – 1/3 wt on big toe and 1/6 on other toes

      2. Degree of pronation – hindfoot and midfoot
              Supinators: lack physiologic pronation and have difficulty absorbing shock of weight bearing.  
                              Weight remains on lateral side of foot.                
              Hyperpronators:  lack initial supination and pronate early in gait or
                              extensive collapse of MLA during normal pronation.

      3.  Forefoot position – abducted or adducted

      4.  Foot position during swing phase – flare out or straight
      
B.  Ankle Motion

              1.  Dorsiflexed during swing phase
              2.  Complete extension during toe off

      C.  Leg Motion and Position

              1.  Flexion during push off and contact not extended
              2.  Forward thigh drive – centered and not dropped early
              3.  Lower leg underneath body – not high, low or flared out

      D.  Pelvic Position

              1.  Pelvic tilt – should be vertical not anterior
              2.  Pelvic rotation – should be square not forward
              3.  Center of Gravity position – body should be centered over support leg

      E.  Upper Body Motion

              1.  Arm motion – arms move forward with shoulders square
              2.  Arms should not cross midline and no shoulder rotation
              3.  Arms and elbow should not flare out – may signify lower extremity imbalance
                      and outward flaring of arm is to compensate for balance
              4.  Elbow should be at a 90 degree angle
              5.  Hands and arms move forward on a horizontal motion (not vertical)
              6.  Body motion should be horizontal not vertical

      F.  Running Stride

              1.  Stride length
              2.  Stride frequency
                                     Examination of the Runner

A.  Examination if the Pelvis and Hips

      1.  Flexibility
              - Hamstrings
              - Hip flexors (Thomas Test)
              - IT Band (Ober’s Test)
              - External Rotators (Piriformis, Gluteus)

      2.  Muscle Strength
              - Quadriceps
              - Hip Flexors (Rectus Femoris, Iliopsoas, Sartorius)
              - Hip Extensors
              - Hip Abductors (Tensor Fascia Lata)

B.  Examination of the Foot and Ankle

        1. Foot type and position:
                     - cavus vs planus, pronated vs. supinated
                    - “Too Many Toes” sign:
                                  1.  hyperpronation with forefoot abduction
                                  2.  external rotation of the hip (retroversion)
                                  3.  external tibial torsion

         2.  Achilles position and flexibility:
                          - tendon attaches to lateral calcaneus
                          - tight tendon can cause calcaneal eversion

          3.  Medial Longitudinal Arch (MLA):
                          - flexible or rigid
                          - cavus or planus
                          - maintained or collapsed with weight bearing

          4.  Posterior Tibialis Tendon strength and function:
                         - normal – calcaneal inversion with foot supination
                          - weak PTT causes calcaneal eversion and collapse of MLA
                          - test by examining heel raises

            5.  Great Toe position and flexibility:
                          - Hallux Valgus
                          - Hallux Rigidus or hypermobile first ray
                          - Morton’s Toe (2nd toe longer than big toe)                
                              
C.        Lower Extremity Alignment

      1.        Pelvic position and tilt: anterior or vertical
      2.        Spine – scoliosis
      3.        leg length discrepancy (function or anatomical)
      4.        Genu Varum or Valgus
      5.        Torsion (femoral, tibial, foot)
V.        Evaluation of Running Form
(see handout on detailed evaluation of running form)
A.  Foot Biomechanics
    1.  Foot strike position
            - midfoot or forefoot strike with brief supination
            - heel strikes and maintains supination
            - foot pronates as moves from lateral to medial
            - toe off with brief supination – 1/3 wt on big toe and 1/6 on other toes
    2. Degree of pronation – hindfoot and midfoot
            Supinators: lack physiologic pronation and have difficulty
absorbing shock of weight bearing.  Weight remains on lateral side
of foot.
            Hyperpronators:  lack initial supination and pronate early in gait or
extensive collapse of MLA during normal pronation.
    3.  Forefoot position – abducted or adducted
    4.  Foot position during swing phase – flare out or straight
    
B.  Ankle Motion
            1.  Dorsiflexed during swing phase
            2.  Complete extension during toe off

    C.  Leg Motion and Position
            1.  Flexion during push off and contact not extended
            2.  Forward thigh drive – centered and not dropped early
            3.  Lower leg underneath body – not high, low or flared out

    D.  Pelvic Position
            1.  Pelvic tilt – should be vertical not anterior
            2.  Pelvic rotation – should be square not forward
            3.  Center of Gravity position – body should be centered over support leg

    E.  Upper Body Motion
            1.  Arm motion – arms move forward with shoulders square
            2.  Arms should not cross midline and no shoulder rotation
            3.  Arms and elbow should not flare out – may signify lower extremity
imbalance and outward flaring of arm is to compensate for balance
            4.  Elbow should be at a 90 degree angle
            5.  Hands and arms move forward on a horizontal motion (not vertical)
            6.  Body motion should be horizontal not vertical

    F.  Running Stride
            1.  Stride length
            2.  Stride frequency


Running Biomechanics
CHRISTIANRUNNING.ORG
V.        Evaluation of Running Form
(see handout on detailed evaluation of running form)
A.  Foot Biomechanics
    1.  Foot strike position
            - midfoot or forefoot strike with brief supination
            - heel strikes and maintains supination
            - foot pronates as moves from lateral to medial
            - toe off with brief supination – 1/3 wt on big toe and 1/6 on other toes
    2. Degree of pronation – hindfoot and midfoot
            Supinators: lack physiologic pronation and have difficulty
absorbing shock of weight bearing.  Weight remains on lateral side
of foot.
            Hyperpronators:  lack initial supination and pronate early in gait or
extensive collapse of MLA during normal pronation.
    3.  Forefoot position – abducted or adducted
    4.  Foot position during swing phase – flare out or straight
    
B.  Ankle Motion
            1.  Dorsiflexed during swing phase
            2.  Complete extension during toe off

    C.  Leg Motion and Position
            1.  Flexion during push off and contact not extended
            2.  Forward thigh drive – centered and not dropped early
            3.  Lower leg underneath body – not high, low or flared out

    D.  Pelvic Position
            1.  Pelvic tilt – should be vertical not anterior
            2.  Pelvic rotation – should be square not forward
            3.  Center of Gravity position – body should be centered over support leg

    E.  Upper Body Motion
            1.  Arm motion – arms move forward with shoulders square
            2.  Arms should not cross midline and no shoulder rotation
            3.  Arms and elbow should not flare out – may signify lower extremity
imbalance and outward flaring of arm is to compensate for balance
            4.  Elbow should be at a 90 degree angle
            5.  Hands and arms move forward on a horizontal motion (not vertical)
            6.  Body motion should be horizontal not vertical

    F.  Running Stride
            1.  Stride length
            2.  Stride frequency
V.        Evaluation of Running Form
(see handout on detailed evaluation of running form)
A.  Foot Biomechanics
    1.  Foot strike position
            - midfoot or forefoot strike with brief supination
            - heel strikes and maintains supination
            - foot pronates as moves from lateral to medial
            - toe off with brief supination – 1/3 wt on big toe and 1/6 on other toes
    2. Degree of pronation – hindfoot and midfoot
            Supinators: lack physiologic pronation and have difficulty
absorbing shock of weight bearing.  Weight remains on lateral side
of foot.
            Hyperpronators:  lack initial supination and pronate early in gait or
extensive collapse of MLA during normal pronation.
    3.  Forefoot position – abducted or adducted
    4.  Foot position during swing phase – flare out or straight
    
B.  Ankle Motion
            1.  Dorsiflexed during swing phase
            2.  Complete extension during toe off

    C.  Leg Motion and Position
            1.  Flexion during push off and contact not extended
            2.  Forward thigh drive – centered and not dropped early
            3.  Lower leg underneath body – not high, low or flared out

    D.  Pelvic Position
            1.  Pelvic tilt – should be vertical not anterior
            2.  Pelvic rotation – should be square not forward
            3.  Center of Gravity position – body should be centered over support leg

    E.  Upper Body Motion
            1.  Arm motion – arms move forward with shoulders square
            2.  Arms should not cross midline and no shoulder rotation
            3.  Arms and elbow should not flare out – may signify lower extremity
imbalance and outward flaring of arm is to compensate for balance
            4.  Elbow should be at a 90 degree angle
            5.  Hands and arms move forward on a horizontal motion (not vertical)
            6.  Body motion should be horizontal not vertical

    F.  Running Stride
            1.  Stride length
            2.  Stride frequency