ON GOOD FORM

Here are some simple ways to improve your running movement patterns

- TOM CRAGGS

LAST ISSUE I looked at practical ways to assess your running form. This time, we explore what to do with that information, what and how much we can change in your technique, and some of the factors you need to be conscious of when trying to do so.

● Why form matters

Running might be driven by our cardiovascular system, but without our muscles and tendons generating the force to move, we can't run. There's still debate around the link between your technique and injury risk, but ultimately the reasons we get injured are multifaceted - training too often, too hard, too soon, poor recovery, sickness and life stresses can all be a factor. But improved movement patterns can play a part in preventing injury and are likely to play a role in improved performance for most.

● Breaking down the gait

In my last article, we broke the running gait down into the following phases:

Early swing: The moments after the standing leg leaves the ground.

Late swing: The front leg in the moments before footstrike..

Ground contact: The initial moment of footstrike.

Stance phase: When your foot's in contact with the ground.

Below, I identify some common issues you may see in each of these phases, and how to improve them.

● Early swing phase

Issue: Trail leg lags behind you.