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Linking 2D video to running biomechanical data

By Jordan Metcalf, PT, DPT, CP-S

With gratitude to Jordan Metcalf of Alterra Physical Therapy, we present you a case study involving an ultrarunner grappling with discomfort in both plantar arches, left knee, and right hip during runs exceeding 6 miles. Seeking insight into the potential causes of his pain, he got help from Runeasi expert, Jordan Metcalf. Let’s dive deeper into this case. 👇

Key findings - physical examination

  • Reduced standing rotation to the right.
  • Diminished strength and stability during a single-leg hop in place on his right leg.

Key findings - Runeasi analysis

Now, let’s delve deeper into the data of Runeasi

Runeasi running data
  • The impact duration was shorter on the right leg, suggesting difficulty in absorbing and distributing forces across the lower limbs.
  • Dynamic stability was worse on the left side (12% difference), often indicative of hip weakness or lack of control contributing to “runner’s knee,” aligning with the patient’s left knee discomfort.
  • A longer ground contact time on his left leg may be attributed to poorer pelvic control on that side, potentially compromising stability and adversely affecting step reactivity.
  • Fast Decline in running quality at higher speeds, indicating a breakdown in running form at greater velocities.

Linking to 2D video images

  • Higher hip drop on the left leg during support, which indicates a lack of hip control.
  • Spinal deviation and a wide arm action towards the left during left leg support serve as compensatory mechanisms for the weakened hip control.
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Picture of Written by Jordan Metcalf, PT, DPT, CP-S

Written by Jordan Metcalf, PT, DPT, CP-S

Dr. Metcalf has been practicing physical therapy since 2018 after graduating from Northeastern University. He has a successful history of helping a wide range of patients achieve their movement goals, from weekend warriors to collegiate and professional athletes. He uses a foundation of functional movement and physiology expertise, combined with cutting-edge treatments such as blood flow restriction training and dynamic cupping, and experienced hands-on manual therapies to optimize his clients’ performance. He sustained multiple injuries during high school while playing competitive soccer, and now uses his experiences to improve the performance of other athletes both injured, and not. He is passionate about the success of his clients beyond just their injury recovery and strives to maximize his clients’ resiliency, performance, and musculoskeletal health.

5 rEASONS TO USE OUR APP

1. Global movement quality

Track and improve your client’s Runeasi running quality. Identify their weakest link with our advanced visualisation.

2. individual recommendations

Get individual training and cueing recommendations to improve your client’s weakest link.

3. Real-time feedback

Engage your clients through visual gamification and watch how they self-optimize to your verbal cues.

 

4. Session trends

Learn more about your client’s running quality during daily training. Our session trends show when and where the quality drops with fatigue.

5. Quick comparisons

Compare pre-post data to show intervention effects on the movement quality. 

3 REASONS TO CAPTURE DATA USING THE RUNEASI BELT

1. No motion artifacts. The Runeasi belt is secured tightly against the body and the skin to capture the actual movements of the body’s center of mass. Attaching or clipping the sensor directly to the pants would allow the sensor to wobble from side to side (i.e., measuring the wobbling of the pants, and not the human body.

2.  Easy to standardize the sensor’s positioning. The Runeasi belt makes it easy to consistently position the sensor close to the center of mass. Attaching the sensor directly to the pants would dramatically affect the reliability of the outputs as the height and tightness of the pants will affect the results. Moreover, these pants attachments often shift sideways while running which further decreases the data quality. 

 3. Comfortable to wear.  Hundreds of runners confirmed that they immediately forget about our belt while running. This allows them to move without any restrictions and allows us to capture movements that are representative of a client’s true biomechanics.

SENSOR SPECS

LAB GRADE SENSOR

Accurately captures full range of motion and kinetic parameters by leveraging wide sensing range (16 Gs) & high sampling frequency (1000 Hz)

WATER & SCHOCK PROOF

Built to withstand high intensity training and sweating. Suitable for the outdoor elements, come rain or shine. Robust to handle the repetitive and ruthless impact shocks of running.

Lightweight & SLIM

Seamlessly integrates onto the body to support movement without restrictions. Weight: 9.4g/0.33oz with battery. Dimensions (36.6mm/1.44” dia. X 10.6mm/ 0.42” thick)

No charging wireless

Replaceable coin-cell battery with operating time up to months, depending on the usage. Bluetooth® 5.0 radio for effortlessly transmitting data real-time or post-session.