A real example of what can be achieved with this process.

A dramatic comparison: Before and After!

When I met Dave, he had been dealing with chronic hip, foot, and leg pain. AND he had an injured back – a disc herniation that was easy to see on MRI.  To say he was frustrated and had almost given up on ever being pain-free again, was an understatement.

• The measurements at his waist are referred to in clinical (gait analysis) terms as “lateral pelvic drop.” So, what is lateral pelvic drop? It is a simple and most importantly, objective way to measure stability on a single leg during running. 

The larger the number, the less stable the runner is, and the higher the risk of injury.  6 degrees, which you see in the “before” image on the left, is a relatively “high” number, indicating a significant instability when he lands and loads his left side. In the right “after” photo, you can see that number is significantly improved at only 3 degrees! I tell every runner I work with that the “ideal” and goal we’re striving for is 0 or 1 degrees.  So, he is on his way! 

Let’s now look at some of the OTHER amazing yet subtle changes that are evident in the AFTER image…

Look at his spine comparatively. It’s much ‘straighter’ in the image on the right.

Notice how in the “before” image on the left, how his trunk is leaning and curved to the left. 

These are all objective indications that his CORE is simply doing its job – taking care of itself. 

The smaller muscles and connective tissue that support the spine and are responsible for improved integration, alignment and balance throughout his entire trunk, are all working much better. 

Look at the overall alignment of the trunk and especially his left leg. There is much better musculoskeletal stacking and alignment in the image on the right.

AND…he now has HIPS!  Look at the overall shape of his entire hip girdle on the right. Impressive. 

He’s done incredible work to get to this point – and deserves the credit!

When I shared these before-after images on Facebook for all to see, Dave was so gracious in offering his perspective on the process we’ve gone through together. I highlighted it in yellow below.

What about running FASTER? Do these improvements contribute to faster running potential?

The answer is a resounding YES. And here’s why: ENERGY LEAK. 

Every added degree of  “lateral pelvic drop” of the hips and trunk – as each foot makes contact with the ground – results in energy being lost – being dissipated. 

Picture a radio tower.* It has guy wires around it on 3 sides for support.* If you remove the guy wires from one side, eventually the structure will collapse.* The joints in the body are no different.* They must be supported by the muscles.* Weakness or poor muscle activation puts excessive loads on bones, joints, ligaments and connective tissues that not ONLY lead to injury – it leads to lost speed potential. 

To understand this even better, think of an analogy of a bouncy ball. 

If I take that ball and throw it to the ground – the harder I throw it, the faster that ball comes back at me, and the higher into the air it would go.

But what if the ball had less air in it so that it “flattened” more as it made contact with the ground? 

Your body is, in many respects, the same way.  It’s analogous to your hip dropping to one side, as though your pelvis and hips were “flattening.” 

Of course, in addition to improved efficiency because of less energy leakage, we know that running speed also comes from…

…how much force the runner can apply to the ground. 

FORCE production also improves as stability and strength improve!

The point is this: the more stable you are on a single leg, the less energy is lost with each foot strike – AND the more force is put into the ground.  As a result – your body TRAVELS further through the air with each foot strike! 

A little known fact that is true for most runners: as little as a 1/4 inch improvement in stride length achieved from improved stability – results in a ~10-seconds per-mile improvement in speed! 

Any runner who has trained hard and attempted to get faster – KNOWS how difficult it can be to improve by 10-seconds per mile.  Especially as you get closer to your true potential!

So, what did we do together to help him reach this point? 

It all started with my Virtual Gait Analysis! 

• I assessed tissue balance, passive flexibility and mobility, and individual joint articulation and began working with him to restore everything to normal. 
• I assessed his core and hip stability, hip and trunk strength and integration, small nerve proprioception, foot mechanics, and just about everything else related to his movement quality. 🙂

So, let me ask you point-blank: Are you interested in this kind of information, and this type of success?
 

• First, YOU the athlete has to know exactly where your weaknesses (or areas of opportunity) are so that they can be addressed head-on. This is where a Pursuit Athletic Performance VGA or my personal in-person 1 on 1 coaching evaluation comes in.
• Second, YOU the athlete needs to know exactly what you need to do to solve these issues forever. This is where a proven system, like ours at Pursuit Athletic Performance, comes in.
• Third, YOU the athlete needs compassionate guidance and feedback, especially during the early phases of the training, so that you can embark on what might be the most important journey of your life, to achieve 100% good health and durability. This is where my coaching guidance comes in.

When these three components are in place, you can DO THE WORK with confidence. You’re empowered. You believe in yourself again.. You’re willing to do the work because you know that you can be successful. 

If any of the three above are missing, your chances for success are severely limited. It sucks, but that’s the harsh reality.