Running Analysis and Load Management of Bone and Tendon: Science and Practice for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

Running Analysis and Load Management of Bone and Tendon: Science and Practice for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

Day 1: Running Analysis

Focus: Running Analysis, Running Technique, and Shoe Selection

Overview

This session, led by Bas Van Hooren, provides physiotherapists, trainers, and athletes with the latest scientific and clinical insights into the relationship between running technique, injuries, and performance. Participants will learn about:

• Running technique analysis.
• Gait retraining for injury prevention and treatment.
• The selection of running shoes.
• The role and limitations of wearables for runners.

The session includes a mix of theory and hands-on practice. Participants will utilise the latest artificial intelligence tools to perform running analyses, which can later be implemented for free in their practices.

Learning Objectives

By the end of Day 1, participants will:

• Be capable of conducting running technique analyses independently.
• Advise runners on optimizing running technique and shoe selection to prevent injuries and improve performance.
• Gain confidence in understanding running biomechanics in relation to injuries and performance.

Learning goals

Critically analyse biomechanical determinants of running economy and injury risk

1. The participant can integrate research findings on stride frequency, trunk and pelvic kinematics, and ground reaction forces, and on this basis formulate evidence-based adjustments in running technique and load to optimise performance and reduce tissue stress.

Integrate wearable sensors and video analysis into clinical decision-making

1. The participant can critically appraise the validity and reliability of data from wearables, 2D/3D analysis, and laboratory measurements, and translate this information into practical interventions for various types of runners.

Design and justify individualized gait re-education for specific pathologies

1. The participant can evaluate kinetic-chain interactions and compensatory patterns (such as step frequency, trunk inclination, foot strike) and derive and substantiate a phased retraining plan for conditions such as Achilles tendinopathy, patellofemoral pain, or iliotibial band syndrome.

Teaching Methods

• Interactive lectures
• Practical demonstrations
• Group exercises

Materials Provided

• Syllabus
• PowerPoint presentations

Day 2: Bone and Tendon Training

Focus: Training and Rehabilitation for Bone and Tendon Health

Overview

This session, led by Bas Van Hooren, focuses on the latest research regarding:

• Bone and tendon loading during sports.
• Mechanisms of overuse injuries in bones and tendons.
• Rehabilitation of bone and tendon injuries, with practical applications.

Participants will explore high-load training, stress-relaxation principles, pain management in training, and protocols for concentric, eccentric, and isometric exercises. A practical segment will allow participants to experience the application of these principles.

Learning Objectives

By the end of Day 2, participants will:

• Understand how bones and tendons respond to various types of loading.
• Recognize how overuse injuries occur from a biomechanical perspective.
• Comprehend factors such as growth and energy availability (e.g., RED-S) affecting bone and tendon health.
• Apply the latest training and rehabilitation protocols to manage and prevent bone and tendon injuries.

Learning goals

Analyse and model tendon and bone adaptations to mechanical loading

The participant can, based on scientific literature, explain how load magnitude, strain rate, contraction type, and recovery time influence tissue properties, and apply this knowledge in prevention and rehabilitation programmes.

Develop and evaluate individual loading protocols for tendinopathy and bone-stress injuries

The participant can translate mechanobiological principles into personalised training and rehabilitation interventions that restore tissue capacity while minimising recurrence risk, supported by current evidence on high-load isometrics, strain thresholds, and recovery cycles.

Integrate mechanobiological, nutritional, and psychosocial factors in the management of overuse injuries

The participant can, through multidimensional analysis (mechanical load, nutrition, hormonal status, stress, sleep, and lifestyle), design a holistic treatment strategy that promotes recovery and supports athletic performance goals.

Key Concepts

• High-load training
• Pain-free versus pain-tolerant training
• Isometric, concentric, and eccentric exercises
• Impact loading versus sustained loading
• Progressive recovery plans for bone injuries (e.g., stress fractures)

Materials Provided

• Syllabus
• PowerPoint presentations

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for physiotherapists, trainers, and athletes seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in gait analysis, injury prevention, and rehabilitation related to running biomechanics, bones, and tendons.