Runners clinic: Helping you perform at your peak

Biomechanical assessments are used in combination with a thorough musculoskeletal evaluation to address injury and performance issues. During the initial evaluation, patients receive:

• History and running program review

• Orthopedic examination (i.e., flexibility, strength, balance, skeletal alignment, foot structure)

• Video analysis (below) of running mechanics

• Treatment plan development, as appropriate

All tests and findings will be reviewed with you immediately following the examination. If necessary, a treatment program will be implemented, with follow-up options discussed. Your treatment program could consist of therapeutic exercises, manual interventions and guidelines for a progressive return to your prior running level. Modification to your running form also might be recommended to correct adverse running mechanics.

Injury-related evaluations and services are billed to your insurance company. Costs can range from $120 to $480, depending on the services provided. Please contact your insurance company to verify your coverage.

For patients interested in improving performance, running mechanics also can be evaluated. Our staff uses video analysis and follow-up discussion to improve your efficiency, reduce energy cost and prevent injuries. In addition, a brief physical exam also can be performed.

If you are being seen for a performance assessment unrelated to injury, the following cost is payable at the time of service:

This is a 60-minute appointment that includes a 30-minute running video analysis, a brief musculoskeletal screen and professional recommendations related to footwear, running mechanics or exercise.

The cost is $150, due at the time of the appointment. Credit cards are accepted.

For patients interested in state-of-the-art and comprehensive assessments of their running mechanics, including precise joint motions and forces, we offer three-dimensional computerized analysis. Eight high-speed cameras record the runner on an instrumented treadmill that measures ground contact forces.

Specialized computer software estimates the specific loads to the musculoskeletal system, enabling our clinicians to better understand factors contributing to injury and optimize treatment. Each patient receives an individualized, comprehensive report of the analysis in combination with our two-dimensional analysis, which is still important for visualization and patient education.

Please note, patients should wear spandex running shorts and a compression running tank top for 3-D assessments.

This cost for this service is an additional $600, due at the time of the appointment. The 3-D analysis can be added to injury evaluations or performance evaluations but must be scheduled that way in advance and will not be billed to your insurance. (The 2-D analysis can be billed to your insurance if it is related to an injury.) Credit cards are accepted.

In their work with runners, our physical therapists and athletic trainers sometimes use the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill to "unweight" athletes and allow them to rehabilitate injuries while minimizing the impact of gravity on the athlete's body.

Pregnancy and delivery can place tremendous stress on the joints and soft tissues of the core, pelvis and lower extremities. Returning to running after childbirth is often difficult, with moms commonly experiencing a variety of musculoskeletal pains and symptoms.

Our Active Moms Running Evaluations use video running assessments in combination with a thorough musculoskeletal evaluation, including ultrasound assessment of muscle function. During the initial evaluation, patients receive:

• History and running program review

• Orthopedic examination (i.e., flexibility, strength, balance, skeletal alignment, foot structure and running shoes)

• Ultrasound biofeedback to improve abdominal muscle function

• Video analysis of running mechanics

• Treatment plan development, as appropriate

All tests and findings are reviewed immediately following the examination. Patients receive a summary of recommendations, including a treatment program, with follow-up options and therapeutic exercises, manual interventions, neuromuscular retraining, footwear recommendations and guidelines for training. Modifications to running form might be recommended to correct adverse running mechanics.

The Active Moms Running Evaluations are injury-related evaluations and services billed to insurance. Please contact your insurance company to verify your coverage. Running during pregnancy should be communicated and cleared with your physician. A referral from your physician is needed for all Active Moms who are currently pregnant.