Running Assessment
A running assessment looks at your movement, strength, training habits, and injury history to identify factors that may be affecting comfort, efficiency, performance, or injury risk.
When running is not feeling right
Running can be affected by more than one factor. Pain, recurring injuries, changes in training load, footwear, strength, mobility, recovery, and running mechanics can all influence how your body responds.
A running assessment may be helpful if you are:
- recovering from a running-related injury
- dealing with recurring pain or tightness
- returning to running after time away
- increasing distance, speed, or training volume
- preparing for an event
- trying to improve efficiency or performance
- new to running and unsure where to start
You do not need to be a competitive runner to benefit from assessment. The goal is to understand your specific needs and help you run in a way that fits your body, goals, and current capacity.
What the assessment looks at
Your assessment begins with a conversation about your health history, running history, current training program, previous or current injuries, footwear, goals, and what you are hoping to improve.
Your physiotherapist may assess:
- strength
- flexibility and mobility
- range of motion
- balance and control
- movement patterns
- areas of pain, stiffness, or sensitivity
- training load and progression
- running form using video gait analysis on a treadmill
The assessment helps identify factors that may be contributing to symptoms or limiting progress.
What to expect
A running assessment is 60 minutes long, and will include a physical assessment, video review of your running, and a discussion of what the findings mean.
Slow-motion video can help you see your running pattern more clearly. Your physiotherapist will review the video with you and connect what they see to your clinical assessment, training habits, and goals.
Recommendations may include
After the assessment, your physiotherapist may recommend:
- exercises to improve strength, mobility, control, or balance
- running technique cues or drills
- training modifications
- strategies for returning from injury
- flexibility or mobility work
- a treatment plan for a current injury
- guidance on building volume or intensity more gradually
This assessment is not a replacement for coaching. It is designed to work alongside your current training plan and help you understand the physical factors that may be affecting your running.
Moving forward
A running assessment can help you make more informed decisions about training, recovery, and injury prevention. The goal is to help you run with more confidence and a clearer plan for what to work on next.
