Running Assessments at MOVE Sports Physiotherapy & Pilates
- Tanner Nyholm
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
Training for your first River run, Geelong half-marathon or Ballarat Marathon? - Let us help.
Training is building. Long runs are creeping up. And then…
Your hip feels sticky.
Your calf feels gritty.
Your knee feels “a bit weird” after 6km.
You’re not injured. But you’re not fully confident either.
This is exactly the time for a running assessment. Not when things fall apart.
It’s rarely just the sore spot
Most runners focus on where it hurts. But pain is often the symptom, not the source.
Calf tightness as an example, might actually be coming from:
Reduced ankle mobility
Hip control issues
A recent shoe change
Increased mileage
Fatigue from life outside of running
A detailed running assessment zoom out, and looks at the whole system.
Not just the noisy area.
What Actually Happens in a Running Assessment?
At MOVE, we offer structured, practical, and personal running assessments that go far beyond hopping on a treadmill and being told to “lift your knees more.”
We Start With You
Before any movement, we talk.
What are you training for?
What does your weekly load look like?
What feels good? What hasn’t?
Have you had previous injuries?
Are you doing strength work?
For everyday runners, context matters. Work stress, sleep, recovery, it all influences how your body tolerates load.
Bring Your Shoes (Yes, All of Them)
Most runners rotate between 2–3 pairs.
Each shoe changes:
Calf load
Foot mechanics
Stability demands
Sometimes the “gritty calf” started the same week as a new shoe. That detail matters.
Treadmill Running & Video Analysis
You’ll run while we capture slow-motion footage, to analyse:
Cadence
Step width
Pelvic control
Trunk position
Arm swing
Foot strike pattern
We’re not chasing perfect form. We’re looking for:
Overloading patterns
Inefficiencies
Asymmetries
Fatigue-related breakdown
Often runners are surprised — what felt like a calf issue turns out to involve hip control or ankle stiffness.
Functional & Strength Testing
Running is a single-leg, repetitive activity. So we test:
Single-leg squat control
Hopping tolerance
Lunge patterns
Ankle mobility
Hip rotation
Where appropriate, we may use objective strength systems like VALD to measure real force output and side-to-side differences.
Because “it feels weaker” isn’t as useful as knowing it’s 18% weaker.
Hands-On Treatment: Immediate Support
Once we identify what’s driving the issue, we don’t just send you away with exercises. We treat it.
Hands-on treatment may include:
Soft tissue release
Joint mobilisation
Targeted calf or hip manual therapy
Taping techniques for long runs
Mobility re-education
Hands-on treatment can:
Calm irritated tissues
Improve range of motion
Change how movement feels immediately
It’s not the whole solution — but it supports the bigger plan.
Then Comes the Plan (The Practical Part)
Everyday runners don’t need 45 exercises. You need clarity and simplicity, designed around your training schedule and event timeline.
Your plan may include:
✔ A 5-minute prehab block you can actually stick to
✔ A structured warm-up for key sessions
✔ 2–3 priority strength exercises
✔ Self-mobility and massage strategies
✔ Event-day taping or pacing guidance
You Leave With Clear Direction
After the session, you’ll receive a detailed summary outlining:
Your goals
What we found
Why it’s happening
The contributing factors
The improvement plan
Realistic timelines
No vague advice. No endless foam rolling without purpose.
Just a clear path forward.
Why This Matters Before In The Lead Up To Your Running Event?
If you've signed up to an event that's happening within 4-10 weeks, your training blocks are limited.
The difference between finishing strong and limping through the last 8km often comes down to:
Capacity > Hope.
You don’t need to be elite to deserve structured support.
Most runners just want to:
Train consistently
Avoid flare-ups
Feel strong at the start line
Enjoy the process
A running assessment gives you confidence in your body — not just fitness in your legs.
Don't leave your running performance to chance.
Unlock your potential at MOVE.
Book a Running Assessment at MOVE Geelong and get a personalised plan to help you optimise your running potential, and manage niggles before they turn into an injury,
