3-D Gait Analysis Findings

On Monday, I wrote about my amazing opportunity participating in a 3-D Gait Analysis at George Mason University’s SMART Lab.  To recap, I was invited to participate in exchange for a review on my blog, and received the $200 assessment, at no charge.

Eddo compared my functional test results to my gait analysis, and compiled a biomechanical report and assessment specific to me.  My report pinpoints areas of weakness and  inflexibility, and gives me suggestions on exercises that I can do to correct those problems, and hopefully, help protect me from injuries in the future.

My report explains that data has been collected in four different areas during my testing process.  Those areas are biomechanics, strength, alignment, and flexibility.  It’s how those four pieces interlink together that help determine my risk of injury.

If you remember from my post on Monday, my data was placed in a large and ever-growing database with information collected at 18 other biomedical research labs around the world.  This allowed for comparing my test results with those of other test subjects of the same ability level, gender, age, etc.

The goal would be to score as close to 100% as possible in each of the pieces of the Injury Index puzzle below.  My total Injury Index score was 36 with a breakdown as follows:

• Ankle/Foot – 41% (excessive time to peak pronation in both feet)
• Knee – 8% 🙁  (excessive knee collapse velocity and excessive peak knee rotation in left knee; and reduced peak knee collapse in both knees)
• Hip – 67% (excessive peak hip extension in both hips)
• Functional – 63% (reduced toe-out position in both limbs)

The SMART Lab’s and my goals will be to increase those low scores now that we’ve identified my “atypical biomechanical gait patterns.”  I’ll do this by incorporating exercises and stretches to fix these problems into my daily routine.

The areas identified above (ankle/foot, knee, hip, and functional) were individually graphed out for me showing whether I fall into the excessive, ideal, or reduced range for a variety of tests.  The blue dots identify my left ankle/foot/knee/hip, and the red diamond identifies my right.  I’ve included these results above with my percentages in the four Injury Index pieces.

After reading the very thorough description of the various terms used when discussing the foot/ankle complex, knee complex, hip complex, and functional outcomes, it helped me understand my findings better.  At a glance, it’s so much information, but once I sat down and reread my report, I had a much better understanding, and could appreciate the findings.

Next my report breaks down my results from the gait analysis and functional tests, and identifies symptoms, muscles/structures involved, and finally gives me recommended exercises to improve the area of concern.

In addition to my Injury Index points of concern, the follow specific areas of concern were identified:

• Ankle dorsiflexion – fail left (this has been a problem since my 2012 L4-L5 bulge)
• Dorsiflexion of great toe – fail right (this has been a problem since my 2012 L4-L5 bulge)
• Hamstring flexibility – slightly asymmetrical, right more excessive
• Bilateral squat – fail bilaterally, forward torso, poor sagittal plane, core/posture
• Single-leg squat – both sides knee dives inside second toe, trunk shifts both sides
• Bridge test – right hamstring cramping (this has been a problem since my 2012 L4-L5 bulge)
• Vertical compression posture test – slight lordosis

So what exercises were recommended for me to do to improve upon these strength, flexibility, and alignment deficiencies?  You’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out!  😉

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Just a reminder that SMART Lab is giving two gait analyses to two of my readers!  Two of my lucky readers will win an opportunity to visit the lab, perform the exercises, and receive a complete assessment, free of charge!

Rules to enter the SMART Lab 3-D Gait Analysis giveaway:

1. You are allowed to enter every day between now and Friday, October 24 at midnight.  The more times and ways you enter, the greater your chances of winning.
2. Please enter only if you live in the DC Metro area, or would be available to visit the GMU SMART Lab in Manassas, VA.
3. Two winners will be selected by Rafflecopter at midnight on Friday, October 24, and announced by Sunday, October 26.
4. Once the winners are announced, they will have until Tuesday, October 28 to verify that they will register for their analysis.  If either winner fails to claim their prize, another winner will be chosen.
5. Relatives of Deb Runs are not eligible to win.

To enter for a chance to win a GMU SMART Lab 3-D Gait Analysis,
please use the Rafflecopter app below.

GOOD LUCK!

• Questions:
• Do you have any minor running injuries that you’re ignoring, hoping they don’t get any worse?
• What exercises do you do to enhance your running?
• What would you hope to gain most from your SMART Lab 3-D Gait Analysis should you be one of the two lucky winners?