What level of athletes do we assess at the SPEED Clinic?

Each individual has talent and untapped potential for improvement. We welcome everybody. Thus far, we have assessed individuals with diverse athletic abilities – from a mother of four children to world class athletes. Individuals have come to our clinic from a mile away to several thousands of miles away. We understand that each athlete has specific goals and our mission is to do our best to help you achieve your individual goals. Athletic ability and level may vary between our clients, yet the service provided to all individuals is the same.

How do assessments at the SPEED Clinic differ from seeing my Physician or Physical Therapist?

Physicians establishing diagnoses and prescribe treatments. Physical Therapists assist injured individuals by either increasing musculoskeletal dynamic control or by reversing soft tissue limitations that decreases symptoms and enhances tissue function. However, chronic symptoms that do not resolve with physical therapy, can cause long term limitations to tissue healing and negatively affect peak athletic performance. Furthermore, the source of chronic symptoms varies significantly based on diverse training schedules, individual structural alignment, and sport specific techniques. Following assessments, our qualified staff is able to pinpoint individual differences in biomechanical properties that address the root of your chronic symptoms. Your physician or physical therapist may then use the information derived from our assessment and the recommended functional interventions to ensure a comprehensive approach to healing and more importantly, prevent recurrence of your symptoms.

Should I come to the SPEED Clinic if I am in acute pain?

A rapid increase in symptoms (acute), including pain, should be first addressed by your physician who will determine the need for diagnostic tests and appropriate treatment. Moreover, we will not be able to complete a thorough assessment in the presence of acute pain.

What are the differences between exercises prescribed by either my Physician or Physical Therapist and exercises recommended by the SPEED Clinic?

Several individuals do not benefit from physical therapy programs because of poor exercise techniques. The key to our successful exercise prescription program is the recognition of individual differences and limitations in strength and flexibility. By pinpointing your individual movement characteristics, we are able to make specific recommendations to enhance your exercise technique that ensures functional gains during healing. We also spend extra time to ensure that you are provided with detailed technique cues that you can integrate into sport specific training.

Do I have to do stretching exercises for my injury for the rest of my life?

No. Contrary to common belief, stretching injured tissue “lifelong” without a specific limitation does not increase performance or decrease the propensity for recurrent injury. Our goal is to provide you with an exercise program that corrects the specific, restricted movement pattern. The total duration of exercise programs varies between individuals. As your muscles develop new “memory” for correct movement patterns and specific limitations are reversed, the need for repetitive exercise to correct the underlying limitation will decrease. As a result, you will be able to train more efficiently and your athletic performance will improve. Our goal is to help you be a better athlete, not just to make a “better stretcher.”

How does your gait analysis differ from an analysis either at my running shop or by my coach?

Many running shops and coaches are well trained and can serve as an excellent “starting point” to identify basic issues such as “improper running form” or inappropriate footwear. Our experienced staff includes competent sports physicians and physical therapists, well versed and published in sports biomechanics. We dedicate our careers to analysis of athletes like you. Our unique motion analysis laboratory at the SPEED Clinic has equipment that is able to perform detailed assessments that cannot be accomplished elsewhere in the United States. Using a rare “force instrumented” treadmill in conjunction with a state of the art camera system, we have the unparalleled ability to obtain “multi-stride” force data (kinetics) at steady state that allows us to quantify how hard you are working to control each joint (kinematics) during movement. This information cannot be obtained in motion analysis laboratories that use only cameras to assess only range of motion (kinematics) data.

I’m not injured, but I need to drop time for my next event. Can you help me?

Examining performance variables allows us to distinguish alterations in force transfer throughout your body. By examining information such as “Anterior/Posterior Ground Reaction Force”, we can assess quantitative measures of deceleration and acceleration throughout the stance phase. These variables are directly correlated to efficiency of movement and can be used to alter the timing of the gait cycle to improve performance. The goal is to either reduce effort at the same pace or increase pace at the same effort level.

I have chronic “______”. I’ve been to my physician and have performed repeated sessions of physical therapy. I have also read a lot of information in magazines and online. Rest helps, yet my symptoms recur when I resume training. What more can you offer?

We often assess individuals at the SPEED Clinic who are not responding to common treatments. Most overuse injuries are caused by subtle musculoskeletal imbalances that become magnified following “high volume” training and are frequently difficult to assess in clinical environments. Understandably, physicians are not able to readily identify the root of musculoskeletal problems. Rest, prescription drugs, and physical therapy can help alleviate symptoms. However, resumption of training frequently unmasks tissue imbalance and symptoms recur. Our attention to detail regarding the root of your problem allows us to correct the subtle musculoskeletal imbalances to help prevent injury recurrence.

How often do I have to come into The SPEED Clinic? Is there and additional charge for a second assessment session?

Typically, in a single session, we are able to perform a comprehensive assessment and provide you with a detailed overview of potential musculoskeletal imbalances and problems. We have received positive feedback from several individuals. They have been able to effectively utilize information we provided following their assessments and importantly, have adequately implemented recommended exercise programs as part of their daily routine. As a result, several individuals have noted improvements in symptoms, enhanced training regimens, and marked improvements in athletic performance following just one session. However, individuals have also returned for additional assessments to obtain objective measures of change following the implementation of our exercise recommendations. We are able to utilize baseline data from the initial session to make comparisons. The “follow-up” session is billed as an additional session.

Will you make recommendations on either running or cycling footwear? Do I need orthotics?

Yes. We use objective criteria to make recommendations for both footwear and orthotics. Footwear is an essential piece of equipment in both running and cycling because it serves as the interface between the athlete and contact surface. Appropriate selection of footwear has been shown to accelerate healing. Conversely, healing is prolonged healing following the use of inadequate footwear.

I’m coming in for a bike fit. Do I bring my own bike? Can I get set up on more than one bike in a single session?

“Specificity” of form and movement is a crucial component of biomechanical assessment and prescription. Individuals bring in their own bikes to ensure correct fit since interpretation of numbers from sizing devices to the actual bike are prone to error. Cyclists bringing in more than one bike will be charged an additional fee if a separate 3D fit is desired on the additional bike. Riders also need to bring their shoes, pedals, and bike shorts to ensure consistency of measurements. Although the assessment is not performed at maximum intensity, power output will be constant to provide a better measure of body function during training and racing.

I’m coming in for a Gait Assessment. What do I need to bring? Will I be running for the entire 3 hours?

Bring running clothes, shoes, and any orthotics or inserts that you are using either while training or competing. Speed of the assessment will be based on information obtained during the pre-assessment interview and your individual goals. Typically, a short 8-10 minute running session is sufficient to obtain information on multiple strides at steady state speed.

What is the difference between VO2 max and Lactate Threshold Testing?

VO2 Max:

Refers to the maximal volume of oxygen your body can process during exercise at peak intensity, VO2 Max changes only slightly (~ 4-8%), either within or between seasons. It is used as a performance marker to establish talent spectrum during a particular endurance task and is a particularly effective assessment tool when correlated with Lactate Threshold testing.

Lactate Threshold:

Any form of muscle movement produces lactic acid. The ability of your body to remove and recycle lactic acid allows efficient muscle contraction and delays fatigue. During intense exercise, a point is reached at which lactic acid production exceeds the speed of lactic acid removal from your muscles. This point is known as the Lactate Threshold.

Muscle efficiency and power output are compromised beyond the “lactate threshold” and therefore, this sensitive performance parameter is a powerful predictor of aerobic performance.

Two important aspects of Lactate testing that we derive include concentration of lactate at given intensity, and also the pace of movement at “your lactate threshold”. This information is valuable to objectively determine “your training intensity at your current state of fitness”.

Can both tests be performed on the same day?

Yes. Additionally, both tests can be performed on the same day as any of our Gait Analysis or Bike Fit services.

Do I need to rest prior to performing either the VO2 max or Lactate Threshold Tests?

The VO2 Max is assessed at exhaustive exercise intensity. Therefore, we advise complete rest for 24 hours prior to the test to ensure adequate performance. Conversely, Lactate Threshold testing will not maximally stress your body, yet, we recommend 48 hours of “lighter training”. Adequate rest and adjustments to training helps us make accurate comparisons to prior tests.