A new running lab in the Kansas City area promises to prevent injuries and improve performance.
Studies show roughly half of all runners end up injured every year, so an Overland Park doctor helped create RunSafe – a program using instant replay technology and specialists to help runners.
“We can predict what injuries they're most likely to get and then take the proper steps to prevent those,” said Dr. Michael Khadavi, with Carondelet Orthopaedic Surgeons & Sports Medicine in Overland Park.
RunSafe uses 240 frame per second high definition cameras to record a runner’s form. Slow motion replays then reveal potential problems in a runner’s stride and technique.
During his fellowship at Stanford University, Khadavi helped create RunSafe and recently brought it back home to Kansas City.
“There are a couple similar to this around the country, but certainly regionally this is the only one that uses a multi-disciplinary approach along with the latest technology,” Khadavi told 41 Action News.
Besides analyzing running form, four specialists work with runners to evaluate strength, flexibility, foot biomechanics and nutrition.
“It really confirmed a lot of the things I felt I might be doing wrong,” Matt McLaughlin told us after going through RunSafe.
The two-hour analysis program costs $300 and it’s not covered by health insurance, but runners keep their video to review and improve their running habits.
“When I'm at the 18 mile mark of the marathon and I'm really tired and, you know whatever and not thinking about it anymore, that habit can carry through,” said Ken Welsh with Midwest Triathlon Coaching.
As a marathon and IRONMAN runner, Welsh decided to try RunSafe after going through foot surgery for plantar fasciitis.
“As I'm getting older now as well, I find that the technique is more and more important,” said Welsh.
------
Patrick Fazio can be reached at patrick.fazio@kshb.com .
