What makes Adam Schwerdt with RunMental a good neighbor?  

The Good Neighbor Podcast recently featured Adam Schwerdt from RunMental, a specialized physical therapy and performance coaching practice designed specifically for endurance athletes. As the name suggests, RunMental focuses on providing comprehensive care for runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes, with a particular passion for helping runners overcome injuries and improve performance. This unique approach to physical therapy fills an important gap in the healthcare system, where treatment is often reactive rather than preventative.

Adam's journey into specialized athletic physical therapy stems from his personal experiences as a runner plagued by injuries during his high school and college years. These setbacks fueled his determination to understand the mechanics of running-related injuries, eventually leading him to pursue a career in physical therapy. What sets RunMental apart is their dual focus on both rehabilitation and coaching. Adam initially started with the coaching aspect while working at a traditional outpatient clinic, before taking the leap in 2021 to establish RunMental as a comprehensive resource for athletes seeking both injury treatment and performance enhancement.

One of the most fascinating insights Adam shared during the podcast was debunking common myths about running biomechanics. While much attention in the fitness world has been focused on the importance of glute strength for runners, Adam explains that this perspective is somewhat misguided. Though the outer hip muscles do provide important stability, research shows that the calf muscles are actually the unsung heroes of distance running, providing approximately 50% of the propulsive force. This revelation challenges conventional wisdom and highlights why specialized knowledge is crucial when treating runners and other endurance athletes. Adam and his team regularly address these misconceptions through workshops titled "Running Myths: Truth or Bull," where they separate fact from fiction for the running community.

RunMental's targeted approach means they work almost exclusively with endurance athletes. Their marketing strategy involves active community engagement, including attending races, participating in group runs, and utilizing digital marketing to reach their specific audience. This focused approach allows them to develop deep expertise in the particular needs of these athletes, rather than trying to be generalists. Adam's dedication to his field extends beyond his professional practice – he's an avid runner and backpacker himself, bringing firsthand experience to his work. His personal journey, overcoming both injuries and academic challenges to become one of the top physical therapists for runners in Colorado Springs, gives him a unique perspective on the struggles many athletes face.

For runners and endurance athletes in Colorado Springs looking for specialized care, RunMental offers a resource that truly understands the specific demands of their sports. Whether you're dealing with an injury or simply looking to improve performance, Adam and his team provide targeted expertise that goes beyond general physical therapy. Their commitment to helping athletes achieve their goals, and their willingness to refer patients elsewhere when necessary, demonstrates why specialized care can make all the difference for dedicated endurance athletes. As Adam succinctly put it during the podcast, "If you run, you hike, you bike, you swim, you triathlon – whatever it is, we are here for you."

To learn more about RunMental go to: 

https://www.runmental.com/

RunMental

719-270-3155