APP REVIEW: Run Tempo — Runners Metronome

Run Tempo—Runners Metronome—by Emma Lattey

As the sun starts to come out, days get longer, and events are back on, more of our patients are hitting the streets. Run Tempo is a simple but effective metronome app that plays behind music or podcasts to keep your step count under control.

Seller: Size: DockMarket, LLC 800.8 KB

Category: Health & Fitness

Version: 0.12.0 Compatibility: Requires iOS 9.3 or later. Apple and Android Languages: English Age rating: 4+ Copyright: 2017 Dockmarket LLC Cost: $1.69 Family Sharing: Yes

Run Tempo is a metronome app for running training at an optimal cadence. It is different from other apps as it allows music or podcasts to play at the same time.

Run Tempo is the perfect metronome for runners and other athletes. It is handy to use in the clinic for cadence retraining and you simply set your desired beats per minute using the controls and you're ready to go. Run Tempo can run in the background, allowing you to hear your tempo while using other running apps with audio or music. Includes an optional countdown timer to let you set your tempo then turn off automatically.

Here are my hot tips for cadence retraining for runners with PFP: 1. Prepare the posterior chain for increased work – use hip/knee/calf strengthening and load education before considering cadence changes 2. Calculate cadence – use technology eg. both Garmin and Apple watches calculate cadence, or get your patient on the treadmill and count. 3. If cadence is under 170 steps per minute, increase cadence by 5-10% carefully using RTR or gradual loading plan. Advise patient to “run softer” – does it change their knee pain? 4. Remember other structures that will be under increased stress, eg. Metatarsals. 5. Best apps for cadence retraining • MetroTimer (previously reviewed) - old school metronome, free. • RunTempo • Spotify – pick playlist at specific cadence

• Simple and effective app. Easy to use and does what it says it is going to do. • Has a timer which is helpful for a return-to-running/walk-jog program. • Has different pitches and levels of tone to choose from.

• Running with a metronome and music at a different beat could be off putting. • I prefer the MetroTimer beep to the Run Tempo tone and I think it could get a bit annoying after a while.