Unlocking Your Unique Running Force

This is the 2nd article in a series of how Aletheia Run, which provides a personalized running gait analysis, became a business. Sean Roach, Founder, is sharing his story so that you can understand what his product is but more importantly, how it can help you. There are often moments when we would like more information from the brands and that is exactly what we are doing with Sean and Aletheia Run. You can read the first article here and be sure to tune into our Fireside Chat on June 10th at 5pm PT to get more information on Aletheia Run.

The Origin Story: From Eugene to Innovation

The origin for the Aletheia Run began primarily with my moving to Eugene, OR in 2004. I was in the middle of completing my PhD dissertation examining the potential relationship between muscle dysfunction in the trunk and hip and patellofemoral pain (PFP). PFP is found generally in the knee cap and thigh bone region or anterior knee region. I was interested if something was being overlooked in the evaluation and treatment of this very common condition.

At the time most of the focus for PFP was centered on hip strength or motor control deficits. Prior to that, the focus had included patellar mal-tracking through a combination of tight soft tissue and “weak” quadricep musculature (vastus medialis in particular) and disturbances in foot and ankle biomechanics. All of the work done with regards to these variables, although helpful, still left many questions for the condition lingering. In fact, as of January 2025, the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy included an editorial that stated the condition remains somewhat of a mystery and that other approaches need to be considered to solve the riddle more effectively. 

The Trigger Point Revelation

I had been introduced to the concept of myofascial trigger points while in undergraduate school through Anna Boyd, physical therapist and first very influential elder. My interest grew over the years that I practiced on all ranges of ages as activity levels. I read an article written by Barbara Headley, a magnificent physical therapist, who passed several years ago, that discussed that muscle dysfunction in the quadratus lumborum could create a condition in which the gluteal muscles about the hip would inhibit these muscles from producing force. Her work led me to examining the prevalence of trigger points in these muscles and their potential relationship to individuals with and without PFP. A significant relationship was revealed in my study, where those with PFP had higher prevalence of trigger points than those without PFP. 

This study was limited, as all studies ultimately are, in that the trigger point resulted in changes in the biomechanics of the hip and knee during gait activity. This initiated a search for objective tools to better assess the mechanics of the hip and lower extremities. This pursuit led to the purchase of a pressure sensor treadmill. The treadmill creates pressure maps that resemble butterfly patterns as the individual runs or walks. The patterns are interesting and provide good insights as to how and where a person is distributing their weight. My team used the treadmill to perform pre and post treatment assessments. In particular, subjects often underwent manual manipulation techniques to correct for active trigger points, joint mobility restrictions and/or motor control dysfunctions. Often, significant changes were noted in the pressure patterns, generally toward improved metrics post interventions. 

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Gait Analysis Meets Pressure Mapping

After several thousand of these instrumented gait assessments, my team and I were convinced that the gait patterns being generated contained valuable information. This data often led to superior methods of assessing the effectiveness of treatment interventions. The main limitation of course with this tool is the fact that the treadmill is required. This presents many obstacles, not the least of which is that very, very few facilities possess this expensive equipment. 

From High-Tech Labs to Real-World Tools

Thus, the search was on for a more practical tool, both relatively inexpensive and that could be used in various environments and surfaces. Over several frustrating years and numerous strategies that were employed we finally developed an amazing tool for gait evaluation and treatment development. The tool is a wearable device that is placed strategically positioned over the individual’s sacrum or back of pelvis just below the waist line.

This position is a region that can capture forces that are distributed throughout the body as a person runs or walks. The acquisition of force data allows for the generation of what we have termed a force portrait. A force portrait is the unique visual representation of the forces that are experienced both from the external world and the internal world of the individual. The portrait in other words captures the interaction between the world as it interacts with the person and the person as it interacts with its environment. It is exclusive to each person and is dynamic in nature over time. 

The Aletheia Run: Honoring Truth in Motion

The goal with this new tool is to help runners of all levels to learn more about how their body moves in relation to its surroundings and with this insight develop more ideal strategies to improve their health and performance. It is anticipated that as the user learns how to use the basic aspects of the device that they will begin to generate novel understandings for its use. This tool can be used to perform self-experimentations such as the employment of various foot striking patterns, arm swings and trunk positions. It is hoped that the user will learn that anyone can become an amateur scientist as they recognize that it just takes a reliable, valid objective tool and a childlike curiosity to learn how infinite possibilities in which the world can be interpreted. 

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