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Running Assessment Program

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

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

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

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

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 lets us gain information on vertical inclination angle and trunk lean
  • The rear gives us data on pelvic drop, crossover, push off, and knee position

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

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 footpods to assess metrics such as flight ratio, footstrike type, and pronation excursion.

4. Running revision

You’ll be able to watch your gait in real-time on the screen in front of you to see if you can 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

Contact UPMC Sports Medicine About Our Running Services

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:

Call us at 1-855-937-7678 to learn more or make an appointment.

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.