Health and Wellness

When it comes to running, efficient movement and injury prevention matter just as much as wearing a good pair of sneakers. Common running mistakes—like excessive pelvic drop and overstriding—when they occur too frequently, place extra stress on the muscles and joints of the lower back, hips and knees. Over time, this added strain increases a runner’s risk for injury.

Wyoming Rehab’s C-Mill—an advanced piece of equipment resembling a treadmill available at only a few locations nationwide—integrates virtual reality to add variety to exercises, features a force plate to measure gait and adaptability and includes frontal and side cameras for in-depth analysis of walking or running patterns.

The C-Mill is a powerful tool for improving movement efficiency and reducing injury risk. While commonly used in stroke and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, it also plays a vital role in performance training for athletes at all levels.

“It’s super cool equipment,” said Wyoming Rehab’s Lindsay Kinney, PT, DPT, COMT. “You record a 30-second video, and the C-Mill picks up on all of the weight-bearing, loading and any asymmetry that you can see with somebody’s strike or step length. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind device, and I feel lucky to have access to it.”

One person benefiting from the C-Mill’s technology is Daniel Katz, an avid runner and EMT with Wyoming Regional EMS. Daniel recently underwent a gait analysis with Wyoming Rehab using the C-Mill, and his experience highlights how understanding your body’s movement and making small adjustments can lead to significant long-term benefits.

Daniel, who has completed marathons, half-marathons and ultra-races, discovered his love for long-distance running during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a short-term challenge when his friend invited him to run a virtual marathon quickly became a lifelong passion.

“Until I was 25, I swore I would never be a distance runner,” Daniel said. “But halfway through the virtual race, I ended up loving it and haven’t stopped running since.”

Daniel now trains for the 2025 Bighorn Trail Run, scheduled for June 20–21, 2025. The course, which traverses the Little Bighorn and Tongue River areas of Bighorn National Forest, challenges even the most seasoned ultra-runners, with over 20,500 feet of ascent and 20,750 feet of descent. Daniel completed the 52-mile course last year, and this year, he and his wife plan to tackle the 32-mile course together.

Over time, Daniel’s training has evolved, focusing on building weekly mileage to match or surpass race distances, stacking long runs and following a nutrition plan that supports his endurance. He now incorporates the C-Mill into his training to elevate his performance.

A typical running gait analysis at Wyoming Rehab begins with a discussion about the runner’s injury history and current issues. Lindsay then conducts a full mobility and strength assessment in a treatment room, followed by a run on the C-Mill. Using insights from both the assessment and the C-Mill, she creates a personalized treatment plan that may include targeted strength training and gait re-training to improve running mechanics.

Daniel’s gait analysis revealed key insights into his running form. Video footage showed a pelvic drop of more than six degrees, suggesting reduced lateral hip strength. This kind of asymmetry commonly contributes to running injuries. To address this, Lindsay recommended exercises to strengthen the gluteus medius and hip rotators, as well as targeted training to help Daniel maintain a level pelvis while running.

Additionally, the distance between Daniel’s foot and center of mass indicated overstriding. To improve efficiency and reduce injury risk, Lindsay suggested cadence adjustments to bring his foot strike closer to his body.

“Catching these discrepancies now is powerful, as we can address them before they become problems in the future, especially when Daniel is packing in the miles during a training cycle for a race,” Lindsay said. “If he doesn’t fix these issues, somewhere else in the body must pick up the slack, overloading an area that might not be equipped to handle it.”

Daniel appreciated both the depth of insight and Lindsay’s passion for helping runners.

“What’s great about Lindsay is that you can find a lot of people who know their stuff, but she loves this stuff,” he said. “And she’s a runner, too.”

“Runners are unique—all we want to do is run,” Lindsay added. “Sustaining an injury that prevents us from being able to do that is demoralizing, especially if it we have to miss a race because of it. A personalized analysis is a helpful way in keeping us out running on the roads or trails and reducing one’s chances for overload injuries.”

Using the information gathered from Daniel’s running gait analysis, he and Lindsay now have a clear roadmap to improve his running mechanics and stay healthy for the long haul.

“I’m not setting out to be a top-of-the-world runner,” Daniel said. “But I do want to keep running for the next three to four decades. If I can be one of those old guys who still run marathons at 72 that would be awesome. This analysis will help me stay on track.”

Lindsay emphasized that the goal of gait analysis isn’t necessarily to change a runner’s stride, but to optimize their natural movement patterns.

“Everyone has their ‘signature’ moves,” she explained. “Everyone is so individualized. Using the C-Mill, we can identify factors that may predispose someone to injury and provide exercises to strengthen those areas, making their running gait as efficient as possible.”

For Daniel, the experience reinforced the importance of periodic assessments, even for healthy athletes.

“Any work you do when you’re healthy helps prevent injuries and accelerates your training,” Daniel said. “It’s like mental health—when you connect with a therapist while you’re healthy and not in crisis mode, the good work can actually be done.”

He also noted how the C-Mill helped him better understand his body’s needs.

“This will help people develop intuition about their bodies,” Daniel said. “People should listen to their bodies, and they can come in to do these assessments to learn how.”

Looking to enhance your performance and stay injury-free? Call Wyoming Rehab today at 307.674.1632 to schedule your free screening and receive personalized treatment recommendations for non-emergent impairments and injuries. Visit wyomingrehab.org to explore Wyoming Rehab’s full range of services.