Dynamic Bodywork

Not all heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis! - RunningPhysio As a therapist it’s easy to fall into the trap of leaning towards a common diagnosis. The patient might have asked ‘Dr Google’ and may feel they know

Asymmetry is common in runners. Is it acceptable? Simple answer, it depends.

Typical human development is asymmetrical; if there is asymmetry in anatomy you should expect to see asymmetry in run form. This asymmetry is often times easiest to spot in arm swing. Just because there is asymmetry in the arms does not mean you should try and fix the arm swing. This is a classic example of adding a compensation to a compensation.

If there is asymmetry in arm swing it is the physical therapist’s job to determine where it is coming from. This is often due to problems with hip mobility on one side, functional or structural asymmetries, excessive pronation on one leg, or faulty movement patterns due to muscular imbalances. It is imperative to address the driver in these cases. “Fixing” arm swing is sloppy and simply adds a layer of compensation to an existing compensation.

If you’ve got asymmetrical arm swing there’s probably an underlying imbalance that may be contributing to your unilateral running injuries.

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