Running Gait Analysis in Mississauga, ON

Introduction to Running Gait Analysis

Gait is how you move during walking.

Running gait refers to your biomechanics during running. Gait occurs from a complex integration of our neuromuscular system, coordinating the specific activation of muscles at specific times to provide balance, stability, shock absorption, and propulsion. The muscles involved in Running Gait Analysis involve almost the entire body, including the tiny little ones in your feet, the very large ones in your legs and hips, the stability ones in your core and spine, and even the ones in your shoulders and neck – running is a full body activity.

Next, our Body Align Assessment evaluates full body biomechanics during running, evaluating each phase of the gait cycle through slow motion video analysis, where cameras capturing movement at 240fps allow us to measure specific angles of your joints during the different phases of gait. This valuable insight provides guidance on how your muscles are activating and how your joints are being loaded. We then conduct specific testing on your muscles to evaluate range of motion, strength, and, most importantly, activation order – it is important that muscles fire in a specific order during the gait cycle.

At Align, a comprehensive understanding of your footwear and foot biomechanics is also included. Your feet are the first point of contact, providing shock absorption from ground reaction forces and are very instrumental in good running biomechanics. At our practice in Mississauga Running Gait Analysis is done barefoot and with shoes. Barefoot allows us to see how the different joints in the foot behave naturally, without the influence of footwear. Different shoes will certainly impact different running techniques, and so we have the opportunity to evaluate the impact that different styles of performance run footwear will have on your body.

Footwear education is shared, and an opportunity to test out different performance running shoes is allowed. You will now be able to instantly feel the difference between the running shoes that complement your running biomechanics and those that hinder it. Performance exercises and specific rehab guidelines may be provided to further optimize your running biomechanics. Referrals out to allied health professionals may also further supplement your running journey.

Interpreting the Running Gait Analysis Results

Our Align Clinicians will walk you through the results of your Running Gait Analysis, taking you through each phase of the gait cycle and explaining what your body is doing well and where opportunities for improvement are.