The Modern Running Assessment: Strength, Gait, and Injury Prevention

Host Dr. Kate Kresge talks with physical therapists Dr. Chris Sands and Dr. Gabe Kresge about a data-driven running assessment that pairs dynamometry, force plate testing, and slow-motion gait analysis with each runner’s goals.

3 Key Takeaways

• Measure strength against body weight. Dynamometry puts quad and hip force in context of body weight, revealing deficits and side-to-side asymmetries a visual gait check can miss. (Mentiplay 2015)
• Train one leg at a time. Running happens on one foot, so the guests prioritize split squats, single-leg deadlifts, and deficit calf raises. Strength training has improved running economy in distance runners. (Blagrove 2018)
• Make small gait changes. A modest step rate increase reduced knee energy absorption at the same speed. (Heiderscheit 2011) The guests favor gradual tweaks.

Guests: Dr. Chris Sands, DPT, is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist with advanced training in running biomechanics. Dr. Gabe Kresge, DPT, is a USA Powerlifting coach and president of Kinetic Physical Therapy. They lead the running program at Kinetic.

Clinical FAQ

What does dynamometry measure?

Muscle force output, interpreted relative to body weight. (Mentiplay 2015)

What is vertical oscillation? How far the body moves up and down per stride. Excess bounce can increase impact forces. (Adams 2018)

Does strength training make runners bulky or slower?

The guests say no. Body composition was not negatively affected in strength-trained distance runners. (Blagrove 2018)

Is running bad for joints?

Recreational runners showed lower hip and knee osteoarthritis occurrence than sedentary controls. (Alentorn-Geli 2017)

Should runners rotate shoes?

Using more than one pair was associated with lower injury risk. (Malisoux 2015)

Timestamps

05:47 Joint loads and dynamometry

08:50 Strength and asymmetry

13:44 Why single-leg strength matters

18:13 Gait analysis head to toe

26:58 Foot strike and force

30:38 Pronation and footwear

39:24 Deficit calf raises

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Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of Fullscript or any affiliated organizations. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. For your safety, always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.