3D motion analysis facility could help prevent injuries

Run3D is a private biomechanics service at the Oxford Gait Laboratory — a joint initiative by Oxford University’s Department of Engineering Science and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

The initial aim of Run3D will be to identify subtle idiosyncrasies in technique that are the root cause of injuries, but it could also act as a preventative tool to minimise the chance of a person developing an injury in the first place.

‘In distance running, the ability to train consistently is key to an athlete’s success,’ Dr Jessica Leitch of Oxford University, who leads the Run3D team, told The Engineer.

Around half of all elite-level runners are believed to be sidelined with injuries at some point each year.

‘Most running overuse injuries are caused by biomechanical weaknesses, which cause excessive stresses and strains to be placed on the joints, bones and soft-tissue structures of the lower limbs,’ Leitch said.

‘By identifying these biomechanical problems, we can identify the underlying cause of a running injury and this information can be used to optimise treatment procedures and prevent the injury from recurring.’