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Running Injury Clinic Research Goes Global |
The Running Injury Clinic at the University of Calgary has announced new research collaborations with centres at the University of Oxford [ run3D], AUT University in Auckland [ Running Mechanics Clinic] and The Ohio State University. On Dec 6th, the Oxford clinic, run3D [ run3D], opened its doors under the direction of Dr. Jessica Leitch. The 3D gait analysis service, supported by the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, is the first of its kind in the UK. The new clinics will be using the Running Injury Clinic model and technology to assess and treat runners and to further running injury research. Having our approach and technology in other countries will mean that our Research Database will grow exponentially in the coming years. The combined research expertise of our colleagues in England, the US, and New Zealand, combined with this expanded database, will revolutionize running research.
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 Orthotics are commonly prescribed for painful conditions like plantar fasciitis, and, anecdotally, people swear by them, however scientists aren’t exactly sure how they work. All previous orthotic research has really only involved putting markers on the heel, and studying the rearfoot.
A recent study by our group, published in the "Journal of Foot and Ankle Research", was the first study to model the foot as a complex multi-segment biomechanical model (click preceding link to view copy of article).
We also modeled the plantar fascia and measured strain, with and without orthotics that were donated and manufactured by SOLE Footbeds. What we found was that an over the counter orthotic reduced plantar fascia strain by 34%. This is the first paper to suggest a potential mechanism by which orthotics work. |
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New Strategy for Injured Runners |
 Our team has just published a study in the March/April edition of the, Journal of Athletic Training, measuring whether runners with knee pain benefit from an intensive hip-strengthening program. We gave injured runners two simple hip strengthening exercises, and within three weeks we found those runners had 40% less pain, less stride-to-stride variability in their movement, and more strength to help them run safely. This study is great news for runners who suffer with chronic knee pain – we’ve shown that strengthening those critical hip muscles helps runners restore a more consistent, predictable pattern of movement, reduce knee pain, and stay on the roster for that next race. Please click on this link to view the exercises: Hip-Research-Strengthening-Exercises.jpg
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Research shows that 50% of runner's experience a running injury each year and half of those injuries are to the knee. Thus, between 4-6 million Canadians will sustain a knee injury this year!
We are currently conducting research on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (pain under your knee cap) and a new study on Iliotibial Band Syndrome (pain on the side of your knee).
If you are a runner experiencing knee pain and would like to participate in our research, please contact our Research Coordinator (p: 403-220-7411 e: jbaxter@ucalgary.ca). |
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 For an injured runner, there are several options available for treatment. In many cases, a clinician performs some form of gait analysis. However, most clinical gait assessments are performed either visually or using a 2-dimensional (2D) approach and a single video camera which is cumbersome, inaccurate, and non-scientific.
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Read more... [Knee Pain Research]
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