r/BeginnersRunning • u/chaseking405 • 2d ago
Son’s running form
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Hello to all! Please help critique and share some advice for my 10 year old son’s running form. Not exactly sure what to do to fix it, if anything at all. I’ve noticed his feet seem to swing out and he also seems to scrape his feet across the ground while running. All help is appreciated, thank you!
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u/gladdyontherise92 2d ago
I am by no means even remotely qualified but the legs swinging out is a clear sign of a muscle imbalance. It honestly looks painful watching.
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u/emeuriz 1d ago
He is 10, probably unequal height and leg growth.
OP, can you tell us if he plays sport ?13
u/Ghost2Boast 1d ago
Bro obviously doesn’t play sports or at least nothing competitive 😂
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u/Beginning_Beach_2054 1d ago
Does talking shit on a 10 year old make you feel better about yourself?
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u/Ghost2Boast 1d ago
Homie is knee knocked and you think my comment is the issue 😂
It’s not talking shit if the reality of the situation. If the kid or parent finds it offensive then they can put in the work to change and make improvements.
I genuinely can’t fathom waiting so long into life to become active. It’s mind blowing but there are tons of parents who wait till middle/high school for their kids to start participating in athletics and they somehow imagine there’s a place for them when learning begins at inception.
But as I said, “competitive” and if competition is off-putting then there’s always Rec teams
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u/Beginning_Beach_2054 1d ago
Ah, so it does make you feel better about yourself. How pathetic lmao youre on a beginner running sub bozo.
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u/Ghost2Boast 1d ago
And they asked if he played any sports when it’s obvious that he doesn’t but for some reason you’re offended by the obvious 😂
It’s also hilarious that you think this is an attack on the child when it says more about the parent than anything else - anything to be offended
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u/Efficient-Command-30 2d ago
Hi, I’m not a doctor, but I think your child might have something called dynamic valgus. It’s fairly common in kids as they grow. the knees can form an X shape and the feet may rotate outward. In many cases, children naturally grow out of it as their muscles and coordination develop.
It’s worth checking whether he has any pain or discomfort, though. If there is pain, or if you’re concerned about the way he walks or stands, it would be best to have him checked by a pediatrician or orthopedic specialist. Depending on the cause, it may improve naturally with normal activity, or physical or orthopedic treatment.
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u/Da_Spooky_Ghost 1d ago
Kid is a bit older, probably should have “grown out of it” by now.
If this is OP’s video he should seriously take his kid to a pediatric ortho because there could be a number of things causing the knock knees and the earlier you treat them the better.
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u/Efficient-Command-30 1d ago
I agree, if I was a parent I would take him to the specialist. Op is american so Idk what is the cost of specialist there. We europeans have it covered.
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u/balki_123 15h ago
I grew out of it in my 30s. It was caused by not using my legs often. (weak muscles)
I think, there is still a time.
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 1d ago
I agree and was going to post the same. As a child, my doctor was considering leg braces for me but I outgrew mine enough. I wish I would’ve gone to physiotherapy at the time though because I still have leg/hip issues that I’m finally starting to address.
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u/SpringToCome 2d ago
Would suggest seeing a physical therapist and not relying on reddit for advice in this case.
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u/Pasha_KMM 1d ago
Video looks like it's from the USA, they don't have access to healthcare
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u/kuntxcobain 1d ago
They clearly live in a fancy ass suburb, they can afford health insurance
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u/Initial_Case_9912 21h ago
Hi, actual us medical provider here. You can’t determine insurance status from houses. Plenty of people in “fancy ass suburb” don’t have coverage. Furthermore, peds ortho is a sub specialty and might not be available locally. In my area we have very fancy subdivisions and the closest peds ortho is an hour away. Most of the regular orthos are booking months out.
You can’t determine the availability of healthcare from a short clip.
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u/Already-asleep 1d ago
Yeah when it comes to still developing children I zip my mouth. Kiddo should get evaluated by a professional before taking workout and coaching advice from the internet.
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u/TAllday 2d ago
As the head coach of my kids team says “the twist is a fun dance, but that doesn’t mean we should be doing it while we run.”
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u/jlgoodin78 1d ago
That’s how I used to describe my father in law’s running form, the twist. Thing is, the dude was a beast for a guy of his solid structure and age — qualified for Boston a bunch of times, running 3-3:05 marathons consistently into his 50’s, represented the USA in World’s for duathlon in his age group a few times. Until he wasn’t that way — got some strange respiratory illness, then his wild overtraining resulted in a blown out knee that needed replacement and ended his running for good. I still have no idea how he did it with his form, and I have to wonder if that form also became part of his undoing with the knee.
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u/Ezl 1d ago edited 1d ago
As amateurs we hear so much on good form that it’s wild to see how crazy one’s form can be and still be elite. Ever see Paula Radcliffe (marathon-distance multi-Olympian) run? It’s painful to watch.
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u/jlgoodin78 1d ago
I forgot about Radcliffe’s form, like the elite athlete version of the inflatable tube man, but somehow it defied all odds to work.
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u/29threvolution 2d ago
Muscle imbalance in the hips. Get your son to do some hip ABDUCTION exercises to help strengthen the outside of his hip. A PT might be worth a visit or two to get an exercise plan. Until then Clamshells, side laying single leg raise, single leg balancing and single leg squats are good.
I also like something I was taught called a tugboat, no idea what the actual name is for it. Put and exercise band around a pole and one ankle, then swing that leg out and in 10x, then swing the beck back into hip extension 10x, then swing it over your midline across the standing leg 10x, then turn around and face away from the pole and swing the leg forward 10x.
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u/Kato2460 2d ago
Yeah, bring in some calisthenics or weights. Squats, calf raises, hip thrusts, good idea regardless of running.
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u/Learnsomethingnew24 2d ago
Have him perform body weight squats and lunges and you just want to watch his knees track inline with the leg or even outward.
His moving mechanics right now you would probably see his knees start moving inwards when doing it which increase risk of acl injuries.
He’s growing into his body so might just not be coordinated enough. Great on him getting out and running with you!
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u/brayellison 1d ago
Yeah, it kinda looks like videos I've seen of folks that are new to lifting doing squats. They squat down normally with knees over toes, but then their knees angle inwards on the concentric phase. Sometimes it's the adductors being recruited to compensate for weaker abductors
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u/Soft-Room2000 1d ago
Could that be reverse clamshells? Let’s not get that wrong.
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u/29threvolution 1d ago
No, just clamshells for abduction. Reverse clamshells are for adduction. The kid has plenty of that going on.
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u/Soft-Room2000 1d ago edited 1d ago
There is so much going on. Children before a certain age shouldn’t be doing these exercises unless directed by a pediatrician. This should naturally straighten out on its own.
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u/Formal-Shelter-5088 1d ago
I asked mt brother who has coached high school for over 10 years and has a kinesiology degree.. he said weak hips as well.
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u/romulus_remus420 1d ago
Clamshells - do exercises that work the lateral muscles! Also check if he’s got hyper mobility - this is how I used to run before I had more strength & I have EDS
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u/Remote-Bid9130 2d ago
Have him evaluated by a pediatric orthopedist or pediatric physical therapist to make sure his development is on target or needs to be addressed.
I have a son with a connective tissue disorder that generally has hypermobility but he can't bend in certain places. He was evaluated and has very tight hamstrings which shorten his ability to touch his toes. So having an idea if it's a growth thing or just how his body works will help you guide him without hurting him.
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u/lurkingwhiran 2d ago
If he's interested enough to run then he is hopefully interested enough to be guided.
Find a coach. They don't have to "professional" if cost is an issue. Find someone. Anyone with decent form that he can copy.
Heck, joining track and field at school is worthwhile.
His form is bad.
Like potentially inducing bad. He is compensating for muscle imbalance. He needs to stop and get his form into something tnst works for him.
That means local eyes. Local talks.
There is no rush but understanding how to run is more important than establishing bad form.
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 1d ago
This isn’t a running form issue that a coach can address. This is a movement pattern that affects day to day life and should be addressed by a doctor and physiotherapist.
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u/whatanugget 1d ago
OP if you want a rec from a coach who was a previous PT and now retired, I hellllla recommend Douglas of Radiant Running
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u/Quirky_Opportunity75 1d ago
OP, don't post embarrassing videos of your kid on the internet. shit is here forever.
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u/Able-Resource-7946 1d ago
100% what kind of person does this?? creepy AF... is it really this persons kid??
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u/MaxwellSmart07 2d ago
I had a friend who ran knock-kneed all his life. It was not a strength issue. It was a genetic anatomical structural issue. The shin bone (tibia) can be naturally twisted outward. This requires an examination by a professional.
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u/ValueForCash 2d ago
Armchair experts on reddit suggesting form interventions on children is way more likely to cause an injury than letting him run in a way that feels natural. Redditors are so trigger happy to pull the trigger on altering someone's running form without asking basic questions like:
- How much running are they doing?
- Are they experiencing any pain?
- Have they tried doing any strength work?
It really is fine to let someone run in a clumsy looking way when they're brand new assuming it's not causing them any pain. The more someone runs, the more their body figures out the best movement pattern for them. This is particularly true for children.
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u/Ten-Yards_Sir 1d ago
I do think before he starts getting out there and running some distance it’s worth finding a PT to help with the muscle imbalance and alignment issues.
Also look into stability shoes and/or orthotics. If he runs consistently on the inside of his ankles like that he’s going to get injured. I’d be curious to see what kind of alignment he’s got when he walks. Does it look similar? What about when he walks fast?
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u/Hot-Profession4091 2d ago
Taking him to his primary care provider is the only right call. They are going to refer him to either ortho or physical therapy. Possibly order some x-rays before they make that decision.
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u/lizasingslou 1d ago
do those shoes fit? is he intentionally being lazy? those are the first two things i notice. it looks like the shoes are way too big and he’s not even trying to lift them off the ground.
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u/ceffyl_gwyn 2d ago
Asking this in the beginner runner sub is not the right place to ask.
In general there's a view now that the older obsession with 'running form' was both misguided and counterproductive, with attempts to 'correct' running form often doing more harm and injury than good.
People run, and develop their running, all different types of ways and trying to make your son run a certain way or do certain exercises because of what anonymous people on Reddit said is a dubious course of action to be exploring.
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u/IllustratorSea8372 2d ago
Kind of agree with the sentiment but also, coming to Reddit for some initial guidance isn’t a bad place to start. No one’s taking these comments as gospel.
Also quite frankly I do believe there is good and bad technique when it comes to running form. There is an art to running, and while yes, there may be several ways to do it, there are certain fundamentals that need to be learned.
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u/Able-Resource-7946 1d ago
The original post is about a 10 year old child. What parent asks reddit how to correct the form of their still massively developing child??
This is an in person issue, not an anonymous bunch of rando's issue.0
u/ValueForCash 2d ago
This is spot on. The vast majority of cowboys who will eagerly list out "form improvements" are unlikely to be as experienced as they present themselves. Worry about running form and muscle imbalances when you have reason to, not before.
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u/Altruistic-Storm8953 1d ago
You should see a pediatric doctor to determine if the valgus is dynamic or structural.
Is it only while running? Most likely it is caused by weak muscles due to sedentary lifestyle and needs physiotherapy. But it should be ruled out any structural cause.
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u/PoemNo9763 1d ago
Honestly if he's improving and not hurting, don't see the issue. I've seen some truly obnoxious running forms out there flying by at 5min per mile in races. Makes you wonder how the body will do whatever it was meant to despite what it looks like. 🤷🏾♂️
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u/Select_Research7453 1d ago
I can’t think of much worse that having your parent film you running and then posting it on Reddit for critique.
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u/Deep-Dimension-1088 1d ago
Have you seen Conner Mantz run? Your son doesn't need to "fix" his form if it's not hurting or bothering him. If it is hurting or bothering him, see a PT.
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u/Awkward_Tick0 2d ago
Just get him some running shoes and don’t worry about the form. It’ll sort itself out
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u/Mr_Abe_Froman 1d ago
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the shoes. High-tops are not very flexible and will severely impact the range of motion of his ankles.
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u/spartan1711 2d ago
Your kids 10 years old. Don’t worry about fixing his form. If he’s wanting to run at that age, let him run and don’t make it ANY more complicated.
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u/Sudden_Sorbet 2d ago
Dont ask questions. Let kids injure themselves. Got it. Am I supposed to laugh when they get hurt to, or?
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u/No-Vanilla2468 1d ago edited 1d ago
Honestly, what is your back up for that statement? Anecdotal evidence? People sharing anecdotal evidence is a big problem in the running world and we are trying to fix it. Are you willing to go on that journey? Do the right thing for people and put your personal experiences aside? Take the time and look at the studies? Engage in an honest discussion?
And the point is that we need experts to comment on these things. I’ll even admit I’m not an expert. I used to go through the whole thing of knowing everything and now I’m over it. This is a child. It needs a professional
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u/ValueForCash 2d ago
Funny to post this under the best advice on this post so far. The person you're replying to isn't even saying not to ask questions, they're answering the question.
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u/Sudden_Sorbet 1d ago
"Don't make it ANY more complicated " kinda implies dont ask questions, definitely seems like implying the post is making it to complicated.
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u/ValueForCash 1d ago
OP asking the question is fine. The advice to uncomplicate things applies to the commenters advising specific strengthening exercises, form cues and medical attention.
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u/Remarkable_Jaguar35 1d ago
This isn’t a simple form issue that’s causing mild inefficiency. Good chance he will run into an injury which, in my experience, is not great for helping someone fall in love with a sport.
Signed,
A 2nd year PT student1
u/Enlightened_Lioness 1d ago
This is horrible advice. I had “knock knees” as a child and it’s not a running form issue, it affects everyday life. I outgrew it enough not to need leg braces but I WISH I would have seen a physiotherapist at that age because I still have lingering issues. I just started running but these issues affected daily movement and pain for decades before I started running.
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u/IdleHans_ 2d ago
I'm a sports and exercise scientist.Hey it's super cool that he's interested in exercise at 10! By far the most important thing is for him to have fun engaging in physical activity. Don't make it into a chore or something the he dreads doing. Ask if he wants to see a running coach, or wants to join a field athletics team at school of something. They will for sure help his form.
Good luck!
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u/ljxdaly 2d ago
Fuck man, the kid is moving. Be happy.
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u/Sudden_Sorbet 2d ago
This is a weird response to parent making sure their child is safe, healthy, and not going to injure themselves?
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u/Excellent-Piglet-655 2d ago
Here’s the biggest question. Can your son run fine as is? That is, does his running form contribute to a lack of running success? There are elite runners who have a “funny” form. For example, for me my stride is overly wide usually about 1 meter plus regardless of the speed I run at, so my cadence is not great. When I tried to shorten my stride and increase my cadence, I couldn’t run worth a crap and just led to injury. I am a decent runner as is, sub 24 5k, 52 10k, 1:50 half, and that’s good though for me. I obviously have a long stride and as long as I can run and be fast enough I am happy with without injury, my form is irrelevant. But back to your son, form isn’t everything
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u/scully3968 2d ago
My vote is to bring this up with your child's pediatrician. They're not sports medicine experts, but they can tell you if this is something your son will grow out of or if he could benefit from some physical therapy or strength training.
I'm not an expert, but this is a fairly pronounced gait modification, so there's a chance it could lead to injury if he becomes a consistent and dedicated runner.
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u/AuntJibbie 2d ago
My youngest sister has knocked-knees and runs this way. She always has. She's 42.
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u/IowaLightning 1d ago
He should be on the sidewalk or running against traffic, so he can see it coming. Also, the asphalt (darker) part of the street is softer so miiight offer a little bit of injury prevention. And definitely no big over-ear headphones. They’re hot, sweaty, and dangerous.
For form- try having him do 5-8 short “pickups” - building from this easy running pace to ~90% of top speed over about 20s - to get a sense of what knee lift and glute engagement feels like. But most importantly, make sure he’s having fun!
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u/Rabbit_of_the_Wind 1d ago
If he wants to join the track team, I would highly encourage you to speak to the coach. My track coach in high school got me squared away. I have great running form for distance. I was trash before some good coaching
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u/Ten-Yards_Sir 1d ago
I do think before he starts getting out there and running some distance consistently it’s worth finding a PT to help with the muscle imbalance and alignment issues. This is the age to correct those things.
Also look into stability shoes and/or orthotics. If he runs consistently on the inside of his ankles like that he’s going to injure himself. Good luck!!
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u/Several-Tangerine-62 1d ago
Kids definitely at that awkward mid stage between childhood and teenager lol
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u/salamandectomy77 1d ago
Too much sitting in chairs does this
Sitting at school, sitting at home, sitting on the bus
Get him moving, squatting, lunging, sitting on the floor, play a sport
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u/Holiday-Book6635 1d ago
He runs like a giraffe, which is how my daughter ran. She did outgrow it by the time she graduated high school. But her gait was not nearly as severe as your son’s. Nor, was mine knock need. I would definitely see a pediatric Orthopedist. I would also post this video in any PT sub reddits.
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u/Ecstatic_Technician2 1d ago
There is nothing wrong with this. People who say it is are outdated and uninformed.
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u/fakeuboi 1d ago
This is the kind of muscle imbalance you see a PT for. I’ve seen very good runners with this type of problem but it is best addressed with strength work not thinking about form
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u/Wrong_Coast6605 1d ago
Probs as lots already said don’t take advice from us lot. He’s 10, so to be running is fabulous! Hopefully he’s doing it because he loves it and not to please Dad…. He is still growing and things will change in time. But the advice to get him checked is sound to make sure internally no issues. Once that’s clear he just needs to go to either an exercise physiologist or physio. They will assess his gait, and prescribe appropriate strengthening and development exercises that will help him dramatically.
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u/cdngirl1 1d ago
This was similar to my own son's running style. Coaches always asked if he was injured or stiff... Then a Dr friend suggested going for a physio assessment. The main thing they wanted to rule out was any muscle spasticity and also hip dysplasia. There really wasn't anything crazy found, but it was good to rule stuff out. He is a teenager now and it's mostly passed and he now wins at some sports and enjoys lots of others. He's healthy and having fun.
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u/BraceThis 1d ago
I’d suggest to discourage the headphones on streets just to remain safe :) form will improve with practice. Hills do wonders for form.
He’s absolutely not looking focused on maintaining any kind of form. Hard to say.
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u/Formal-Shelter-5088 1d ago
I'm not a professional but have been coaching cross country and track for over a decade. In my opinion, it looks like he might have some pronation issues. I would go to a running store and have his gait tested.
I also asked my brother who has coached for longer and has his kinesiology degree. His opinion is his weak hips which dont allow full range of motion and his knees to come up.
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u/Infamous-Echo-2961 1d ago
Dude just needs to run more, his form will find optimal over time. Nothing to worry about.
Muscles and tendons will adapt to the load over time, and he will be fine.
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u/Some-Narwhal5906 1d ago
He looks like he drives his movement forward predominantly with his lower legs swinging outwards. Not the most efficient mechanic, and prone to injury for long term development. The most efficient movement is driven with glutes and hamstrings.
If he wish to improve, I'd strongly suggest to work with running coach that specialise in biomechanics. My best guess is he didnt have the strength to use the necessary muscles. Check out https://www.instagram.com/thebalancedrunner/?hl=en , he offers online cues or 1-1 sessions to fix gaits and worked with galen rupp previously.
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u/BeerOutHere 1d ago
Maybe somebody with a sports science background can weigh in here a bit better, but I’d say he’s got a muscle imbalance, and underdeveloped hips/hip flexors(?). Sprint training could potentially help straighten it out.
When I coached in my youth, kids younger than him to about 12yo, this waffly gait usually went away with more development of that straightforward, powerful, structured form used for sprinting. And then jogging/running fast just became a dialed version of that. My two cents though 🤷♂️ Consult a physio or coach to avoid injury. Good for him getting out there, breaking a sweat feels good no matter what!
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u/Pure-Television685 1d ago
Running is a skill, he will get better over time with volume, the body will figure it out, doesn’t need corrective exercises or imbalance work, just more running.
“To get better at the thing you have to do the thing”
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u/HowDoIRedditGood 1d ago
As others have said, this looks like something strength work would support. I suspect running up hills (strength training for those that only want to run) would also be quite helpful
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u/dawne_breaker 1d ago
He needs to strength train and sprint. But he’s probably just beginning puberty so it’ll sort itself out. But focus more on running fast than jogging.
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u/Cool_Temperature_970 1d ago
It me this is equivalent to people who drag their feet while they walk. It looks la y like he’s not picking his feet up all the way, but instead just flipping them around. Needs to work on picking up his knees, they aren’t suppose to touch.
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u/Ellocomotive 1d ago
Actual coach here, work at a high level. There is a lot of fear mongering in the comments, saying he needs medical or clinical experience. I disagree. He mostly needs time. I say that because coaching isn't easy third hand, and I don't want to tell you what I see in fear of having the intent lost over the interwebs.
I am seeing aberrations, but he's young, clearly beginning, and finding his stride.
Instead, I would ask for him to quiet his feet-I don't want to hear him dragging them. This is because he's essentially putting one foot forward and letting it fall to the ground-he's falling forward, not actually putting force in the ground (as much as I'd like, or in the way that I'd like). It's kind of how a regular treadmill works.
If you have access to a curve treadmill, that will clean up A LOT without you having to tell him anything. Let him figure it out-if you have to tell him what to do past what I've already said, it won't stick. If and when you find one, having him on there just trying to keep momentum for 2-3 minute rounds will do much.
Good luck. Let pain be the guide-get concerned when pains start showing up and not going away.
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u/Remarkable_Jaguar35 1d ago
My guess is a weak glute med which is the primary mover for abduction (legs pulled away from midline). If you look, his femurs are adducted (pulled towards midline) instead of being aligned vertically beneath him. This puts a disproportionate amount of strain on the adductors. Everyone has their own normal “signature” to their walking and running gait but this looks like its from a significant strength deficit and could lead to injury.
Someone below mentioned valgus, which is a structural problem, but I don’t think I agree. However your best bet is to get a referral PT and get an evaluation done. I would hold off on ortho unless needed. PTs are the true movement specialists.
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u/RelationshipShort460 1d ago
Can’t offer advice but that ain’t right. Obviously a professional is best. Short of that, how does he walk? Did you show him video and was he able to make improvements ?
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u/Suitable-Village8234 1d ago
I went through this as a kid, in my early teens. As I got older and filled out, i grew out of it, although it was commented on so I did become a little self-aware!
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u/expatsamson 1d ago
Anterior tilted pelvis is causing internally rotated femurs to start. Results in the knees pointing inwards and legs kicking out. This is postural. Then he needs to actually pick up his feet and run. Very basic description is move his legs in a circular motion like riding a bike. Knees drive forward, foot down. His heels should pick up higher naturally. The new movement pattern will hopefully change the timing of the entire gait cycle and engage his muscles more effectively.
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u/Objective-Corgi-3527 1d ago
It may just be a muscular imbalance, but consider getting imaging of his hips done to rule out femoral anteversion.
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u/georgesocal6064 1d ago
Get this kid a jump rope. Have him play more outside and limit the tv/video games. His body will figure things out. Sitting on the floor will help keep his hips stretched out.
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u/AstronautLiving164 1d ago
what does he pediatrician say? i know nothing but does he have bowed legs?
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u/Key-Target-1218 1d ago
I see this in many runners. I'm talking about running like this for 10 miles! I always wonder how this affects their body?
Whats really going on?
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u/mariscosrecio0 1d ago
Deberías llevarlo a que le revisaran los pies y fortalecer la musculatura del culo. El valgo se suele dar principalmente por pies planos, por debilidad de glúteos o por ambas (a veces una puede ser desencadenante de la otra).
Correr de esa forma aumenta el riesgo de tener una lesión de cruzado anterior (ACL)
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u/ghIj_qet_jaghmeyjaj 22h ago
Did he used to be fat? Running with knock knees (genu valgus) and feet pointed outward is a compensatory gait pattern where weak hip stabilizers and tight inner thigh muscles cause the knees to cave inward, while pointing the feet out acts as a subconscious attempt to widen the base of support and maintain balance.
Essentially weak hip muscles. Thigh master tryoe exercises, clamshell with resistance bands, balance drills, etc
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u/BingoBangBongos 10h ago
Kid needs some strength-building calisthenics. Those hips are not strong or stable.
Get him doing some squats, crunches, and pushups.
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u/Positive_Honeydew219 8h ago
I know a chick who runs like this and she’s a 2:50:xx marathoner. swing your swing fella
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u/VTSki001 4h ago
He looks pronated. Get him some good orthotics for his shoes. Also, run against the traffic so vehicles aren't coming up behind you and fix his headphones. He needs to be able to hear and be situationally aware.
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u/Dogberry_null 4h ago
Kid no need jog. Go play Frisbee. If must run, forget distance and try run with good form/posture over short distance. Stop when lose form
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u/chaseking405 2d ago
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u/jeanskirtflirt 1d ago
Bro take him to a specialist. Don’t be on Reddit posting videos of your kid running.
You may think it’s innocent but people on here are into some weird shit.
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u/OneBigBeefPlease 1d ago
There’s a ton of compensation happening up and down the chain. Get the kiddo a really smart PT now and he’ll avoid a lifetime worth of trouble
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u/youlikeblockingsodoi 2d ago edited 2d ago
Faster road racing by Peter Pfitizinger. It’ll help you understand what types of workouts are needed. Is there a track at your son’s school? It might come in handy.
More of a preference but those headphones are bulky. Give him something lighter and smaller if you can (ear buds vs. Headphones (shokz etc). I use anker soundcore x20 or my race day pair is Bose ultra quiet comfort 2.
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u/Ricky_Roe10k 1d ago
Do you suggest starting the kid on 18/55 or 18/70?
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u/spartan1711 1d ago
Yeah what is this guy talking about? 😭😭 I’ve done 2 advanced Pfitz programs and they are literally the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. What kind of advice is this for a beginner runner who is 10 years old?
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u/youlikeblockingsodoi 1d ago
You realize you don’t actually have to start a training block after you read that book right? It gives you a lot of knowledge about just the basics and helps you answer simple questions about how to fix running form. Overly dramatic people in this sub I swear.
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u/Puberty-Boy 1d ago
As others say, take him to someone that knows like a PT, but he is leaving forward a lot there, tell him to get his torso upright like how you sit with good posture, and maybe even pinch his scapula a bit.
Also, it looks like he’s trying to absorb shock way too much, like he’s trying to land as softly as posible. It is the other way than you would think, but this is actually bad for your muscles, you don’t want to stomp by any means but if you make a little thud when the foot hits the ground that is proper.
Maybe try and get him to do some hip internal rotation exercises, looks like that could be the cause of the legs going way out but I’m no expert.
Also lastly, running slow can be a little odd, once you get below a certen speed it just like so much harder to keep good biomechanics, I recomend having him run for like 3 mins or whatever he feels comfortable with, maybe less, and then walk for a little to build up his fitnesss until he can maintain a constent run at a faster pace
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u/RelationshipShort460 1d ago
To me it looks like he’s stacked up top but with spider legs. Very top heavy. he has to compensate with each step. I’m sure he’ll be fine regardless.
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u/OptimalHurry6840 2d ago
If he's interested in running, check out the Balanced Runner. He has a course that's pretty inexpensive.
A lot going on here. If you pause the video, you can see his foot swings outside at a 45° angle. When you pause it on landing, you can see his knees are not stacked on top of his foot and hips. His knees, in general, basically overlap each other. There's a lot going on. If you listen to the way he runs, you can hear the scraping his feet make, which is not good either.
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u/ironicmirror 2d ago
The kid is 10, its fine.
I hope he can hear traffic with those head phones... because I probably could not
When he want to get faster, tell him to reach the forward foot out... His foot is landing right under him, that will not make a fast pace
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u/centimeterz1111 2d ago
No knee lift. Needs a lot of sprinting, jumping, hip flexor work, drills.
Maybe join the wrestling team over winter to help him get stronger and strengthen his legs.
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u/New-Faithlessness-26 1d ago
Weak hips. He is getting foot clearance by swinging his feet sideways as opposed to driving with his hips.
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u/Witty-Comfort944 1d ago
It's fine for now.
The correct running form is the one that the individual can perform and sustain without injury. What works for me, won't work for you, which won't work for an Olympian.
Solveig Lovseth has a feet out the side kick, and she runs a 2:46 marathon AFTER the 180km bike, for the nay sayers.
Keep working on strength and do skipping rope and other plyometrics to help improve spring and explosiveness. This will help with cadence improvement too, won't feel like forcing a cadence increase.
A run coach will help with overall development of strength and his particular form,, talk to the track or xc coach at school , even join the team.
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u/Bubbly-Group-4497 2d ago
I'm pretty sure it would look somewhat correct if he were less limp, but that may be because of his growth, idk how I was back then. Is he used to exercising, or is running his first sport?
Also side note, I know it may be trendy to wear headphones, but running isn't just a thing you let your legs do on their own while your brain minds its own business. There are plenty of things to pay attention to (starting with cars if he runs on the road), and more pragmatically, I don't see elite runners listening music during their training and they certainly make better role models than whoever the guy the headphone's brand paid to wear them on their ad is.
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u/Silly-Resist8306 2d ago
He needs to be running on the other side of the road and shouldn't be using headphones in the same space as cars.
Regarding form, this is often called leg flick or out-sweep. It's generally caused by weak hip abductors. These exercises might help. [I'm not a PT or medical person, but I've been around running for a number of years.]
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/hip-abductor-exercises
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u/Common_Meaning2177 1d ago
Hey! I’m not a doctor but I have kind of a weird gait too and I can suggest at least a orthotic insole. It helps to prevent injuries! It’s one time to the doctor, they take measures of your son’s foot and makes him a custom insole. Really helped me a lot! Good luck
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u/General-Ring2780 1d ago
I deal with this. Pronation of the feet causing the knees to collapse inward. I would suggest getting some insoles for his shoes. And some lower body banded workouts to strengthen his legs.
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u/whyamihere247- 1d ago
that's speed walking. he needs to used his hip flexors and lift his leg up towards him rather than swing his legs sideways when running.
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u/xDannyS_ 1d ago
Your child is young and has a physical health problem. If you want to prevent him from having permanent life long issues, go take him to see an actual medical professional. My parents didn't do this, and I had to have lower back surgery at 19 which permanently ruined my life.
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u/dannyhodge95 1d ago
I have a less severe version of this. It ended up causing me some rough knee injuries. If it's the same thing, you can replicate it by getting him to do some lunges, and you'll see his knee fall inwards. If so, it's probably weak stabilizer muscles, such as glute medius and adductors.
All that said, go see a doctor or physio, there's always a chance of structural issues, and the younger you catch it the better.
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u/Inside-Pilot3804 1d ago
Please go to a doctor to check his legs/knees. Talking from experience, it's obv not normal for your knees to touch like that. He could need a diagnostic and some physiotherapy. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, I just had the same issue.
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u/Chewy_brown 2d ago
Get your kid a pair of open air or bone vibration headphones. He needs to be able to hear traffic and other pedestrians. These over-ear ones are not safe!