Watkins holds free clinic for runners
Will analyze participants' posture, stride and flexibility
Published on Wed., April 18th, 2007
Running problems can be blamed on many factors — from posture and flexibility to the way you tighten your shoelaces.
Karen Loudon, Watkin’s Health Center physical therapist, performs strength testing exercises on Delphine F-Nurdin, Dijon, Burgundy, France PhD Student, on Tuesday afternoon at the Runner’s Clinic in front of Watkin’s Health Center. The runner’s clinic was set up to determine the runner’s strength and body alignment to enhance running abilities.
Photo by Sarah Leonard
Students can correct their running style and prevent injury at the Watkins Runner’s Clinic, held at Watkins Memorial Health Center. The clinic began Tuesday and runs today from 9 to 11 a.m. at the south entrance of Watkins.
The clinic offers students a two-part free screening that analyzes the factors that go into a successful run.
Physical therapists conducted the static exam, which included flexibility, strength, and posture analysis. The clinic also offered a running exam, which videotaped participants and played the tape back to analyze their running form.
“We are helping to improve performance,” Karen Loudon, physical therapist, said. “If runners have poor form and are not efficient in their movement, they may be expending too much energy and will not be able to run as fast.”
This clinic is strictly a screening and will tell runners what is wrong with their style, Loudon said. If they want further instruction, they can make an appointment for a one-on-one analysis and correction.
Anyone in the University community is welcome, Loudon said. If people wanting to participate don’t secure a time slot, further appointments may be available through the physical therapy department. An appointment would cost around $50, Loudon said.
Other information is available to runners to assist in choosing the correct shoes and socks, preventing blisters and callouses, and how to lace your shoes according to the type of foot you have.
A representative from Francis Sporting Goods, 729 Massachusetts St., brought many different styles and brands of shoes to show participants and offer advice to what kind of shoe would be most beneficial. Scott Bennett, Overland Park senior and Francis representative, said shoe type was based on a combination of the arch of the runner and the rotation of a runner’s heel-to-toe motion.
“We have different types of shoes to correct their running styles,” Bennett said. “Most running injuries do occur from the wrong pair of shoes.”
We have different types of shoes to correct their running styles. Most running injuries do occur from the wrong pair of shoes.
-Scott Bennett, Overland Park senior
Delphine F-Nurdin, Dijon, France, doctoral student, admitted she wasn’t a runner but had participated in other sports while living in France. But since coming to the University seven years ago, she’s begun running.
F-Nurdin said last semester she experienced a muscular body weakness because of stress. After not being able to run for the past couple of months, she wanted to get back into it.
“I came here today because I care about my health,” F-Nurdin said. “My goal is to be in good shape and to get out of the University with my Ph.D. in my pocket.”
Kansan staff writer Danae DeShazer can be contacted at ddeshazer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Ryan Schneider
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