How A Running Wearable Was Born

A full-circle piece summarizing the first two articles, reflecting on my journey and how it led to the creation of our wearable. Wearables are not new but we believe that our running wearable is the key to injury prevention.

As I approach my 60th birthday in August, I find myself once again evaluating what I want to accomplish in the final stage of my life and career. I’ve reflected often on the many mentors who generously shared their thoughts and knowledge with me. One thing I’ve realized is how crucial the ability to ambulate is to our quality of life. Without it, a person’s world quickly narrows. My primary interest has therefore become advancing the study of human locomotion through running and walking.

I’ve been fortunate to act as a healthcare practitioner for nearly 40 years. My journey began in 1985 as a student athletic trainer at Central Michigan University. After graduating, I became a Certified Athletic Trainer and pursued a Master of Physical Therapy at the University of Michigan in 1990. That program formed the bedrock of my training in anatomy and biomechanics. Peter Loubert, PhD, was my most influential professor, whose skill in teaching complex ideas sparked my lifelong interest in the human body.

Lessons from Mentors: The Foundation of My Passion

After school, I sought out various professional settings to expand my perspective on examining people of all ages. This search led me toward osteopathic manual manipulation, myofascial trigger points, and advanced biomechanics training. A major influence was Chris Powers, PhD, at the University of Southern California and his private institute. From him, I learned to objectively evaluate walking, running, jumping, and cutting skills used in sports. I became proficient with tools like 3D analysis, pressure sensors, electromyography, and force plates, training that shaped my evolution as a practitioner and clinical scientist. In 2005, I opened a private clinic in Eugene, Oregon, and invested in these technologies.

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The Challenge: Why Traditional Tools Fall Short

Today, my work focuses on runners. The tools we use in the clinic are essential for treating running-related injuries. Yet very few clinics have access to such technology, and importantly, these tools can’t assess outdoor running experiences.

To overcome these challenges, my team and I spent the past seven years developing a unique wearable device. It’s a small sensor placed over the sacrum at the center of the pelvis. This is the point where forces from the pelvis and shoulders converge in a cross-pattern. Consider how the opposite arm and leg move us forward while walking and running, storing elastic energy through the thoraco-lumbar fascia, a deep tissue layer connected throughout the body.

Innovation in Motion: Designing Aletheia

The wearable is called Aletheia, meaning “disclosure.” It generates a geometrical pattern based on the forces the body experiences, both external, like gravity, and internal, like muscle forces. We call this the force portrait, a unique profile for each runner, evaluated for symmetry across all three planes of motion, and especially for metrics like braking impulse (the ground reaction force that decelerates the body at initial contact). We assess symmetry to identify excessive loading on one side of the body, a factor believed to contribute to injuries. Hip sway and mobility are also measured to detect imbalances. The resulting force portrait reveals how a runner interacts with their environment and tracks changes in form over time, guiding customized training programs.

Another key feature of Aletheia is its ability to suggest evidence-based exercises addressing identified biomechanical issues. When deficits are detected, the runner is directed to a library of exercises that are backed by literature. These will often include targeted stretches, strength exercises, and motor control drills appropriate for rehabilitation and performance improvement.

Building the Future: Creating a Data-Driven Running Community

Over the next few years, our goal is to build a large, diverse database to identify the key factors contributing to running injuries. It’s a difficult task, as systematic reviews consistently show that injury mechanisms remain poorly understood and often speculative. We believe our sensor represents a major step toward resolving these uncertainties. Injury prevention is essential if running is a part of your life and our wearable can help.

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