St Joseph's Hospital

RUNNING is one of the world’s most popular ways to exercise, and it’s easy to see why.

It’s a relatively low cost way to keep fit, you can fit it around your life, and you can do it (almost) anywhere.

Running clubs and events, like ParkRuns, have sprung up across Gwent as more and more people pull on trainers and get running in an effort to get fit.

I started running in April last year when I signed up to that year’s Cardiff Half Marathon.

I couldn’t run 200 yards when I first started, but I kept pushing myself to run three times a week and I made it over the finish line in one piece.

I have been running ever since, joining the Cwmbran Pub Runners social running group and completing the Newport Half Marathon, and, most recently, the Mic Morris 10k.

So when I was given the chance to have my running analysed by a team of experts at St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport, I jumped at the chance.

The Centre of Clinical Physiotherapy at the hospital is a purpose built and specialist led physiotherapy and hydrotherapy centre.

There, I met Johana Lai, a physiotherapist who works at the centre, and after asking for my running history she put me through my paces with a number of simple stretching exercises.

It was clear from a slight wobble that my right leg has weakness issues, and she advised that was something we could work on to prevent future injuries.

But the real insight came from using an impressive anti-gravity treadmill, called AlterG.

I put on what can only be described as large rubber shorts and was hooked up to the machine from these.

Invented by Robert Whalen, a biomechanics researcher at NASA Ames Research Centre, the AlterG treadmill uses air pressure to apply high force to the body which has the effect of reducing gravity.

It is used to help with rehabilitation by taking the weight off the legs, enabling a person to walk or run when it might otherwise be painful.

Once I was zipped in, Ms Lai inflated the machine and I started walking at a slow pace to get used to the feeling.

It was a strange sensation at first, but not an unpleasant one.

I then began to run, with the pressure increased a short time after. I immediately felt like lead had been strapped to my legs. The effect had been to add 25 per cent more body weight, and this made a huge difference as I had to work harder to keep my pace going.

The weakness in my right leg was clear with my foot taking a less than straight path on times.

Once I was unzipped and back to normal I went to see Douglas Young, a specialist orthoptist at St Joseph’s Hospital.

He does assessments of everyone from sportsmen and women, to others with muscle and skeletal problems.

He said: “Running is getting more popular and the type of running people do is more extreme.

“I see a lot more people who are doing ultra-marathons.”

I was back on the running machine after that, this time in trainers, and then barefoot, while Mr Young filmed my feet to better see my running patterns.

He added: “One of the most important parts of assessment is taking a really thorough history and being nosey, like how long people have been running, past injuries, what people do for a job, because it has a massive impact on people. Some people are on their feet all day and are running 70 miles a week, and that all has an impact.

“If you piece together a story sometimes you can usually work out why they have an injury when you add it all together.”

"Sometimes it’s just down to alignment and the dynamic we see when someone is moving in different ways and using the data to work out what’s happening.”

Combining technology and knowledge helps experts make you a better runner with less injuries.

Mr Young says that there are simple things runners can do to help them have the best experience.

When asked for his advice for anyone running this weekend’s half marathon he said: “I would say having a good dynamic warm-up is vital and making sure they are well hydrated before they run.

“Enjoy yourselves when running and have a warm down when you’re finished.

“Have a day or two off before you run again.”

If anyone is inspired to take up running Mr Young says you should “take it easy” and gradually work up in distance and frequency.

“I would always say take it easy at the start,” he said. “And find a plan online, like Couch 2 5K which you can follow. Manage your training load and don’t try to run five or six days in a row when you start. “Build it up gradually so your body can adapt to it.

“It takes time, you have to be patient - sometimes that’s the hardest thing.”

For more information about the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill and the services available at St Joseph’s Hospital, visit stjosephshospital.co.uk or call 01633 820300.

Angharad Williams