Running Assessment

The running assessment at UPMC is for runners of all levels.

Whether you're a casual neighborhood runner or a seasoned marathoner, the running assessment can help you:

• Avoid a running injury.
• Become a stronger runner.
• Train successfully.

We can manage all your running needs. We offer a full scope of services to help runners train, heal, and prevent injury.

Along with the running assessment, other services that may help runners include:

• Physical therapy
• Sports nutrition
• Sports performance

Read more and watch the videos below to see how this assessment can help you.

Contact UPMC About Running Services

UPMC Sports Medicine, in conjunction with UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, offers the running assessment. Find a location in Southwest Pa.

Note — a running assessment may qualify as either:

• Physical therapy, which health insurance often covers.
• A sports performance service, which insurance commonly doesn't cover.

Consult your health plan if you have questions about your coverage.

Four Steps to Improve Your Gait and Help Avoid Injury

The running assessment has four parts.

1. Running History

We ask you about your footwear, upcoming races, and training program. We then assess:

• Muscle strength of your lower body and core.
• Endurance.
• Flexibility.

2. Running gait analysis

You'll run on a treadmill as we film your gait and gather data, such as running cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.

We film you from two points of view:

• The side view lets us gain information on tibial inclination angle and trunk lean.
• The rear view gives us data on pelvic drop, crossover, and knee position.

3. Running review

We upload your running gait video to a program called Kinovea. This program measures precise angles and helps us pinpoint what components of your running gait you should alter.

We also use RunScribe foot pods to assess metrics such as flight ratio, foot strike type, and pronation excursion.

All of this data helps us decide the exact muscles we need to target to build strength and endurance and prevent running injuries.

4. Running revision

You’ll be able to watch your gait in real-time on the screen in front of you to help you make adjustments to avoid injury. After your running gait analysis and full assessment, we'll prescribe exercises that will:

• Address your unique running impairments.
• Help you attain a more ideal running pattern.

Learn More