Running Gait Analysis

Interestingly enough you have no mid-line stability. Your hip flexors are fried and tight, which is what the picture you posted is telling us. That won’t allow any of the things your physiologist pointed out to work themselves out.

The type of testing you have been evaluated on, is very limiting. The greatest problem with running on a “machine” compared to “real” running is that different muscles are being emphasised causing running mechanics to be very different. Runners, and this includes everyone from 100m sprinters to marathoners, learn to drive the body forward with the hips and hamstrings. One must pull the body forward with the hamstrings, drive the hips forward into a nuetral position and apply downward force with the feet. The treadmill does not allow for these mechanics to function properly. Treadmill running emphasises the quads over the hammies, the motor driven rubber belt pulls your feet back not allowing downward force and your hips are pull back behind nuetral position causing the body to lean too far forward. This can be interpreted as tight hip flexors. If your hip flexors aren’t tight now just stay on the treadmill and they certainly will be. All these factors cause a very deceptive analysis of biomotor patterns. As for mid line stability, very few runners will show good stability on a treadmill for all the same reasons mentioned above. The only real evaluation on body mechanics is whether the runner over rotates or under rotates. The best method is to videotape real running from many angles and then proceed with the disection of mechanics.

Stephen — I will say it did feel pretty unnatural on the treadmill during that test. I would like to get the same evaluation running outdoors. Even at Gear West, where I took another gait test, I ran only on a 40-foot-long track. Never felt like I hit my natural stride on that short length. In truth, the gait tests I took only gave me a hint as to what my body does (and what type of shoe I should wear). As the article hints at, I am still in search of the “perfect stride.” I am open to doing other gait tests as opportunities come up. For now, I am running mostly in a semi-curved, neutral shoe with minimal midsole/padding. Same shoe type I ran in before all these tests.

Stephen, I noticed nothing was mentioned in your article about stride rate and the benefits of monitoring it. Running Formula by Jack Daniels: “The main disadvantage of this slower turnover is that the slower you take steps, the longer you spend in the air, and the longer you’re in the air, the higher you displace your body mass and the harder you hit the ground on landing.” By increasing your stride rate, therefore, you not only improve your ability to maintain a faster pace, but may also reduce your risk of injury.”
An effective way to measure your stride rate for the duration of every workout is by using a nifty little device called the Shoe Odometer. I’m getting great feedback from runners on their improved stride rate by using the Shoe Odometer.

Gait Analysis is fascinting. The advice and information you receive from a Gait Analysis is invaluable and it really can improve the way that you run and walk.
Good luck with your quest for the perfect stride. Great Post!

There are definite limits to running on a tread-mill as compared to real-life situations. Gait analysis is still useful, but there needs to be a more realistic testing strategy.

Stephen, could you please contact me at andy.t.fritz@gmail.com? Not stephen Regenold, but the first Stephen who commented. I am very interested in hearing more about what you have to say about treadmill running and it’s mechanics. Thanks!