Case Study on High Level Runners

Case Description: The outlined cases below are patients who started treatment at Full Potential as high level runners. Both patients had goals of increasing their performance and their overall running “health.”

Case #1:	The patient was a high school track athlete with the feeling of her hips being “off” while running. Testing revealed unilateral hip and knee weakness and video gait analysis revealed diminished hip and knee control during mid-stance of running gait. Interventions consisted of gait re-training drills and lower extremity strengthening of the weak muscles groups.
Case #2:	The patient was a recreational triathlete with anterior knee pain related to running. Running video gait analysis revealed low running cadence, overstriding, and severe heel strike. Interventions consisted of cadence manipulation, running drills, and running gait retraining.

Case #1 Outcome: The patient was able to continue to practice and compete throughout her season and reported full resolution of symptoms by the end of the season.

“Physical therapy helped me improve 100%, and I am feeling good running.”

Case #2 Outcome: After 4 visits, the patient has returned to running pain-free and is returning to training for an upcoming triathlon.

“I have no more knee pain when running, and worked on improving form to prevent further injuries. The clinic’s strengths are running training specifically.”