Patient Story:
T, a 30-year-old recreational runner, came to our lab with a story that will resonate with many athletes. He had only been running for about six months, but he was already training three to four times a week and pushing himself in short-distance races. He loved the rhythm of running, but there was one problem - shin pain.
Rest helped, but the moment he started again, the cycle repeated. For someone eager to build his running journey, this was frustrating. He wanted to know why this was happening and how to fix it - so he could run without fear of pain.
At the Lab: Clinical Assessment
When Mr T visited us, we began with a full clinical assessment. On first look, his posture and strength were reassuring - his hips, glutes and core muscles were strong. But we also found tightness in his calf muscles and iliotibial (IT) bands on both sides.
Testing His Movement
Before running, T performed squat tests. On a double-leg squat, his knees stayed aligned well over his ankles, showing good hip control. But when we asked him to do a single-leg squat, a different story unfolded:
- His right hip dropped.
- His knee caved inward.
- His thigh moved across the midline.
These subtle changes revealed a weakness in his right gluteus medius, a muscle crucial for stabilizing the hip during running. With that clue, we put him on the treadmill. Using 3D motion capture cameras and slow-motion video, we recorded every step as he ran at 8 and 10 km/h.
What the Analysis Revealed
The results explained why T was in pain:
- His stride was wider than normal, linked to tight IT bands and hip control issues.
- His pelvis tilted forward more than expected, showing that his core and hip flexors were imbalanced.
- At foot strike, his right knee bent less than it should, meaning his body wasn’t absorbing shock well - loading the shins instead.
- His right knee also collapsed inward, another sign of hip weakness.
- His feet rolled in too much (excessive eversion) and his calves and tibialis posterior weren’t strong enough to control it.
- On the positive side: He maintained a midfoot strike and symmetrical push-off, which helped protect him from more severe injuries.
It was a mix of strengths and weaknesses - but enough to explain his shin pain.
The Turning Point: Consultation
After the analysis, we sat down with T to go through his results. We showed him slow-motion clips of his own running, side by side with the analysis data. For the first time, he could actually see what his body was doing differently - how his hip drop, wide stride and knee mechanics were overloading his shins.
We explained that this wasn’t just about pain; these movement patterns were also limiting his efficiency, slowing him down, and making running harder than it needed to be.
The Roadmap to Pain-Free Running
Together, we designed a clear, targeted plan:
- Strength training for his right hip, calves and tibialis posterior.
- Stretching routines for his calves and IT band.
- Core stability exercises to control his pelvic tilt.
- Running drills to narrow his stride and refine his cadence.
Moving Forward
For T, this was more than just a report - it was a moment of clarity. He finally understood the root of his pain and, more importantly, had a plan to fix it. The story of his running isn’t about being forced to stop - it’s about finding the tools to keep going, stronger and smarter.