IN CLINIC
MOVEMENT ANALYSED. PAIN UNDERSTOOD. SOLUTIONS CREATED.
Pain, injury and restricted movement aren't always caused by a problem where you feel it. Your body works as one interconnected system, and limitations in one area can affect how everything else moves.
Combining specialist expertise with the world's most advanced motion analysis technology, I look beyond symptoms to understand how your body moves, identify restrictions and develop personalised solutions to help you move more comfortably, efficiently and confidently.
CLINIC TECHNOLOGY
The world's most advanced motion analysis technology
There are about 10 of these installations worldwide. Mine, fondly known as "DORIS", is the only one paired with over 4 decades of diverse movement education: objective data and a trained eye, working together to unlock your movement potential.
What Doris can do:
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240 images per second, recording your spine and pelvis in 3D. Fast enough for running (my previous system, used 2015 to 2019, recorded 60).
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5 cameras, capturing every angle, limb, the spine and the pelvis at once.
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6-second recordings, so we can measure and re-measure quickly and see exactly what is and isn't changing. "I think I feel better" becomes "that area is now moving in the right direction".
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More accurate than an X-ray: ±4mm lateral and ±3° transverse deviation, against ±5° for an X-ray, at speeds up to 30kph.
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Radiation-free, so it's safe for everyone.
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A treadmill with an integrated force plate and nearly 8,000 pressure sensors, recalibrating every 0.2 seconds. Not all treadmills are equal.
WHY IT MATTERS
When you're stuck, labels aren't helpful.
As Jack Nicholson put it in As Good As It Gets: "I'm drowning here, and you're describing the water!" With Doris we can see and measure what's happening, comparing standing, walking, running and, if necessary, sprinting, again and again. That data shows us your body's restrictions, so we can create movement solutions.
CLINIC SESSIONS
Your body is a communicative unit, even when it's in pain
Think of your joints as doors. If they were all wide open, you'd collapse. If they were all closed tight, you'd be rooted to the spot. Graceful movement is a dance of some doors opening and others closing. When movement isn't graceful, or pain persists, some doors have usually had to stay ajar to make up for others that have locked tight.
Take the knee. It's a simple, stable door, so why do knees "break" so often? Perhaps the knee is just the end result of what the hip is doing above it and what the ankle and the 33 "doors" of the foot are doing below it. Then work up through the pelvis, spine, skull, shoulder blades and arms. Every door affects every other door. The permutations run into 7 figures, and I can accurately measure what's happening in a 6-second recording.
So is your pain really a problem with that area, or the end result of problems elsewhere? If normal healing time has passed and you're still struggling, logic suggests the latter.
Why does a door stay ajar, or lock tight? Often the answer isn't in the joint at all, but in how our movement was either first organised, or became disorganised. That's the story behind The Lego Story. [Watch The Lego Story (17 minutes)]
DORIS, combined with my knowledge and experience, will look to find the source, and you'll see the changes right in front of your eyes. Then, we’ll:
"Use movement to inspire change from within, rather than inflict change from the outside." Gary Ward
Your clinic session options
Initial analysis (one-to-one).
5 Hours
An evolving workshop where we dive deeply into your movement history and patterns. It's especially suited to a complex injury history, whatever your fitness level. It's the ideal time to explore thoroughly, test ideas by measuring for change, and go home with tested movement “homework”. Time always flies.
Shared initial analysis (for two).
7 Hours
A day workshop for couples, close friends or training partners. You'll each remember different things and help each other keep the change going.
Follow-Up Sessions
3 hours one-to-one, or 5 hours for couples.
Can't get to clinic? Try the Virtual Movement Clinic
BOOKING
Frequently asked questions
“Of all the experiences I've had in my life, Helen Hall's Smooth Running Retreat ranks among the most insightful and transformative. What could be more valuable than unlocking capabilities that already exist within you but have simply been hidden from view?
The retreat itself was exceptional from start to finish. The venue was stunning, set in beautiful surroundings that immediately encouraged relaxation and reflection. The accommodation was excellent, the food was superb, and everyone involved was welcoming, friendly, and supportive. As a complete package, it was difficult to fault. The quality of the environment created the perfect setting for learning, movement, and personal development.
What truly sets this retreat apart, however, is Helen's remarkable ability to observe movement and identify opportunities for improvement that are often invisible to the individual. Through her expert coaching, she helped me discover patterns, habits, and untapped abilities that I had no idea were there. Her approach is insightful, practical, and empowering, giving you the tools to make meaningful and lasting changes.
The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Since returning home, I have noticed improvements not only in my running but in my everyday movement. Long-standing niggles have eased, mobility has improved, and I move with a freedom and fluidity that I haven't felt for years. It genuinely feels as though my body has been given permission to move as it was always designed to.
The benefits extend far beyond running. Like many people, I had accepted certain restrictions and aches as normal consequences of age, previous injuries, or simply the way I was built. This retreat challenged those assumptions and showed me that there is often far more potential for improvement than we imagine.
Days after the retreat, my wife and I were joking that we felt like Mr and Mrs Incredible. Our joints felt like well-oiled machines and movement seemed effortless. Even routine activities felt different. Walking the dogs, I became aware of new dimensions in my movement and posture that had never registered before. Those insights continue to emerge and evolve as the lessons from the retreat become embedded.
Helen has a rare gift for helping people reconnect with their natural movement capabilities. The retreat is not simply about becoming a better runner; it's about understanding your body better and discovering possibilities you may never have realised were there.
I would recommend the Smooth Running Retreat wholeheartedly. It is an investment not only in your running, but in your health, movement, and quality of life. For me, it has been one of the most valuable and enlightening experiences I have ever had.”
Dr Dilwyn Williams
Alexa Young, CA