Running Gait Analysis Explained

In brief: Gait analysis is the process of observing and measuring how you run, usually on a treadmill with video, to see your footstrike, pronation, cadence and form. Many running shops offer a basic version to help match you to suitable shoes.

What is gait analysis?

Gait analysis is a structured look at how you run. In its simplest form a trained person watches you run on a treadmill, often filming your feet and legs in slow motion, to see how you land, how much you pronate and how your stride looks. More advanced labs add force plates and motion sensors.

Why it matters

The main use of gait analysis is to match a runner to suitable shoes and to flag patterns that might be worth addressing, such as heavy overpronation or a very hard heel landing. It turns guesswork about your stride into something you can see.

What it measures

A basic in-store analysis looks at footstrike, pronation and overall balance. A fuller analysis can measure cadence, ground contact time, stride length and joint angles. The depth depends on the equipment and the purpose, from shoe fitting to coaching.

What to look for

Treat a shop gait analysis as a helpful guide rather than a medical diagnosis. Use it to narrow your shoe options and to understand your tendencies. If you have ongoing pain, a specialist assessment goes further than a shop screen.

Gait analysis and your running kit at OD's

A gait check helps narrow which running shoes suit your stride. The team in St Helens can explain what the results mean for shoe choice, and we offer next-day delivery and free click and collect.