Runners looking for a leg up on the competition will have the opportunity to be critiqued by biomechanical experts in advance of the upcoming Eugene Marathon.
The UO Department of Human Physiology's Bowerman Sports Science Clinic, in partnership with Cooperative Performance & Rehabilitation, will hostng a demonstration of biomechanical analysis techniques to help prevent injury and improve overall performance at the Eugene Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, April 26-27, at the Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13th Ave., in Eugene.
“These analysis techniques can be applied to all types of runners, from elite competitors to recreational runners ,” said Mike Hahn, director.
“Our state-of-the-art facilities allow us to measure the motion of your limbs, the forces you produce in your joints, and pressure mapping of your feet while you run. Using this information, in combination with muscle strength and range of motion measurements, we can provide a complete analysis of your running technique.”
Experts with the Bowerman clinic and Cooperative Performance & Rehabilitation – a Eugene physical therapy center – will be conducting demonstrations of the analysis on members of Team Run Eugene, a competitive post-collegiate training group, and offering a limited number of biomechanical analysis sessions to runners of all skill levels.
Demonstrations are scheduled for 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and analyses will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. A drawing will be held for one person to receive a coupon for a complete clinical and biomechanical evaluation at the Bowerman facility at a later date.
The biomechanical analysis being offered at this weekend’s expo goes further than traditional video running analysis, which is often used to detect pronation/supination — rolling of the feet inwards/outwards — in order to help runners pick the right shoes.
“This technology goes beyond standard treadmill tests,” Hahn says.
“It’s not just about how much you pronate, but about how long you stay pronated,” he explains, pointing to the work of famed Eugene physician Stan James, who serves as an advisor to the Bowerman clinic.
The analysis being conducted by the Bowerman clinic examines three-dimensional modeling of the entire lower body, which can be key to pinpointing the cause of injuries, diagnosing problems with technique and identifying areas for performance enhancement.
Additionally, the Bowerman clinic is part of a network of international research centers connected through the University of Calgary, which gives the clinic access to a massive database of information. The Bowerman clinic is the only member of the network in the Northwest.
The Bowerman Sports Science Clinic is a regional outreach facility that aims to improve the health, fitness and well-being of athletes in and around Eugene. The center offers a variety of services to provide physical assessments of current fitness levels and potential injury mechanisms, as well as sport-specific training advice to help athletes achieve their individual performance goals.
- by Lewis Taylor, UO Office of Research, Innovation and Graduate Education