The Importance of Upper Body in Running

Not just legs!

You’ve maybe heard the term “runner’s posture” before, or perhaps you have observed it from your car or from watching others on the trails.  Perhaps you have witnessed the infamous runner who doesn’t seem to move their arms at all.

Both of these issues can contribute to poor mechanics and can be slightly detrimental to your overall run technique.

As we have mentioned numerous times, posture is a key issue with running (not to mention life in general) and can inhibit important factors like breathing, power, speed and stability during running.

Key points to assess for upper body:

Thoracic Spine/Chest mobility:  Do you have enough mobility in your upper back and ribcage to maintain proper breathing and alignment?  Or are you slumped over when you run or does your ribcage stick out and hinder your stability and breathing?

Shoulder Mobility:  Do you have enough mobility in your shoulders to maintain proper arm swing and allow the chest to stay open?

Core Stability:  Do you have enough stability in the core to keep you upright and keep your energy from leaking everywhere?  Do you have enough stiffness in the core to maintain a neutral spine while running?

These are some of the points that every runner (and human) should address and maintain!  These points are also addressed in our Building Better Runners program!

 Stay healthy!