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CLINICAL CARE

Running assessment

I have a particular interest in working with runners, from people starting out to those training for a marathon, and from a first injury to pain that keeps coming back.

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A running assessment looks at more than technique. How you move matters, but so does how much you are running, what you have injured before, how you recover, and what you believe about your own body. All of it shapes whether a problem settles or returns.

Dr Merridy Lithgow operating an instrumented treadmill while a runner warms up

What you leave with

Depending on what the assessment shows, your plan can include:

  • changes to how you run

  • strength work

  • footwear advice

  • in-clinic treatment such as dry needling, soft tissue work and shockwave therapy

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The plan is built around your goals and reviewed as you go.

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Pain that has lasted for months? Read why pain can hang around.

What I take into account

Before I look at how you run, I want to understand the whole picture:

  • why you run and what you are training for

  • your training load and how you are coping with it

  • past injuries

  • what you believe about injury and training

  • stress, sleep, recovery and diet

  • strength, flexibility and movement control

  • your footwear

Dr Merridy Lithgow reviewing a runner's gait analysis on screen during a treadmill assessment
Dr Merridy Lithgow measuring a patient's foot with a smartphone app

What's involved

After a thorough history, I assess how your feet and legs move, including:

  • everyday movements such as squats, lunges, single-leg squats and hopping

  • strength, starting with your calves and any other muscles that matter for your pain or your running

  • joint movement at the hip, knee, ankle and foot

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From there we talk through what may be causing your pain and the evidence-informed options for managing it.

Treadmill analysis

I use an instrumented treadmill that films you from several angles while measuring the pressure under your feet. Together these show how you move and where the pressure sits under your feet with each step.

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Measuring foot pressure and movement was also a big part of my PhD research, including my studies on plantar pressures and walking in midfoot arthritis.

Talking it through

I walk you through each phase of your running stride and how it relates to your symptoms, training and goals. Where it would help, we try changes to your technique on the treadmill so you can feel the difference straight away.

Detailed report

At the end of the assessment, we work through a detailed report together, covering each part of your running and what it means for you.

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Before your assessment

Please bring your usual running shoes and any older pairs you think may have contributed to your symptoms. Wear or bring comfortable running clothes. Allow 40–60 minutes, depending on your consultation type. Running assessments are available at all my clinic locations.

 

You can also watch my running education videos.

APPOINTMENTS

If you'd like to see me

Sydney CBD, Randwick and Manly.

I consult at Performance Podiatry in the Sydney CBD and Randwick, and at Sports Podiatry Manly on the Northern Beaches. To book online, head to my contact page.

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