Ground Contact Time Balance

space2ground1

Hi all,
I'm using a Garmin HRM and it gives me running metrics after an activity.
Ive noticed that for the first 2-3k of a run, I'm skewing my ground contact time towards the right leg. (47/53% ish) and then it evens out.

I'm trying to figure out if this shows a flexibility problem in the right leg or does it show I'm guarding a flex problem in my left?

I'd appreciate anyone's expertise on it!

RacoonQueen

How does it determine your ground contact time?

jameshayes

RacoonQueen wrote: »

How does it determine your ground contact time?

Accelerometer and other sensors based in the heart rate monitor

Slow_Runner

space2ground1 wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm using a Garmin HRM and it gives me running metrics after an activity.
Ive noticed that for the first 2-3k of a run, I'm skewing my ground contact time towards the right leg. (47/53% ish) and then it evens out.

I'm trying to figure out if this shows a flexibility problem in the right leg or does it show I'm guarding a flex problem in my left?

I'd appreciate anyone's expertise on it!

Do you have any injuries/niggles or are you prone to them, if not I wouldn't read too much into this sort of data. Was chatting with our coach last week on a long run and we were talking about running from and he was saying if you aren't getting injured then your form is perfect, kind of if it ain't broke don't try and fix it.
I'm a bit of a data junkie myself but find the Garmins can give too much data at times, I would only really use it to track progress in my splits/HR.
If you are concerned about running form then go to a sports therapist/physio who can diagnose any issues an give you advise on specific S&C and stretching. 
Other than that stick with general S&C prehab, forget the watch and just enjoy getting out and running

El Caballo

space2ground1 wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm using a Garmin HRM and it gives me running metrics after an activity.
Ive noticed that for the first 2-3k of a run, I'm skewing my ground contact time towards the right leg. (47/53% ish) and then it evens out.

I'm trying to figure out if this shows a flexibility problem in the right leg or does it show I'm guarding a flex problem in my left?

I'd appreciate anyone's expertise on it!

Impossible to tell on a forum and I'd imagine it is an insignificant difference, one of your legs could be half a centimetre shorter than the other for instance. Nobody on this planet is perfectly symmetrical and we also have dominant limbs which all contribute to things like this. Not something to be worried about in my opinion as that imbalance sounds pretty tiny tbh.

kal7

I am with El Caballo seems like very little difference, we all have dominant muscle patterns.

we should try for symmetry, as best runners seem to approach this. Although Usain Bolt a striking example of asymmetric and yet very fast.

I would think that as it goes away after few km, it could be the ligaments in pelvis warming up and loosening out to allow better adaptation so more even use right and left. This is why first few km feel tougher than when warmed up properly.

space2ground1

Thanks a lot everyone. I had a fairly significant knee injury 3 years ago on the left so I guess I'll just give it an extra bit of TLC. The only issue I have on the left these days is a bit of plantar trouble but it generally goes as quick as it arrives.