COL (Ret) Don Goss, DPT, PhD, OCS, ATC, a biomechanics researcher and former US Army physical therapist, joins host Phil Plisky to bring clarity to some of the most debated topics in running rehab. Together, they unpack what the research actually says about cadence, foot strike, and footwear, and how that translates to what you should be doing in the clinic. From military data to practical gait retraining tools, this episode gives you a reality check on what matters most for helping runners recover and perform. Whether you're skeptical about minimalist shoes or unsure when to tweak cadence, you’ll walk away with insights you can put to use immediately.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the evidence around gait retraining strategies for managing running-related injuries
• Determine the clinical situations in which cadence modification and footwear adjustment provide the greatest benefit for runners with pain or previous injury
• Solve patient case scenarios involving injured runners using video-based gait analysis and biomechanical retraining principles

Timestamps

• (00:00:00) Welcome
• (00:00:05) Introduction to running gait and its importance
• (00:03:45) Understanding running cadence and its impact
• (00:10:00) The role of footwear in running injuries
• (00:15:44) Gait retraining: the CLASS program explained
• (00:26:20) Case studies and practical applications
• (00:35:57) Key takeaways and future directions

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