FAQs - Cadence Physiotherapy & Rehab

Q: What is a running gait analysis, and what can it tell me?

A running gait analysis is a detailed look at how your whole body moves while you run. We assess the usual things, such as cadence, stride, and foot strike, but we do not stop at the legs. We also look at how your trunk moves, how your arms swing, and how your hips and pelvis control each step. This helps us understand how you load each leg and whether one side may be taking on more work than the other. Sometimes the area that hurts is not the part contributing to the problem. The way your upper body moves, for example, may be increasing the load through one leg.

Q: Can a running assessment help prevent injuries?

A running assessment is a great way to get ahead of potential problems, even if you are currently running without pain. Physiotherapists are trained to understand biomechanics, which means we look at more than individual muscles or joints. We look at how the whole body moves and how different areas work together during running. Certain movement patterns can repeatedly place more stress on one part of the body. This does not mean that every difference in your running form will cause an injury, but it can show us where your body may need more strength, control, or support as your training increases. By screening your movement before pain develops, we can identify areas that may be taking on too much load and address them early. This can be especially helpful if you are increasing your mileage, preparing for a race, returning after time away, or starting a new training program.

Q: What should I look for when choosing a running assessment clinic?

Look for an assessment that goes beyond watching your feet or recommending a pair of shoes. A thorough running assessment should consider your whole body, your injury history, your training, and how you load each leg. It should also give you a clear plan. Knowing what your body is doing is useful, but you also need to know how to improve it. At Cadence Physiotherapy & Rehab in Vancouver, your running assessment is completed by a physiotherapist who loves to run and understands the demands of running. Each assessment is one to one and 60 minutes long. We take the time to understand your movement, try practical running cues, and give you specific drills, exercises, and treatment recommendations based on what we find.

Q: When should I see a sports physiotherapist?

Book an assessment if you have a new injury, pain that is affecting your training, or an issue that keeps returning when activity increases. You do not need to wait until the pain becomes severe. Assessing an injury early allows us to determine what is happening, protect the area from further aggravation, and begin the right rehabilitation pla

Q: Why does my sports injury keep coming back?

An injury can feel better before the area has fully recovered. Pain may settle, but the injured tissue may still lack the strength, control, or capacity required for your sport. We focus first on rehabilitating the current injury. We then look further to understand why you may have been susceptible to it in the first place. This may include previous injuries, training changes, movement mechanics, strength gaps, or how the area handles repeated load. Addressing these factors helps us move beyond temporary relief and work toward a more complete recovery.

Q: How long does sports injury rehabilitation take?

Recovery time depends on the type and severity of the injury, how long it has been present, and what your sport requires. Certain injuries have expected healing timelines that need to be respected. Rehabilitation also involves progressive strengthening and specific milestones that should be reached before moving to the next stage. We do not base your return on time or pain alone. We assess whether the injured area has regained the strength, control, confidence, and tolerance needed for your sport. After your assessment, your physiotherapist will explain the expected timeline, the milestones you will be working toward, and how your rehabilitation will progress.