Running/Gait Analysis

There is no better way to understand running and gait issues than to watch you running. Video-based treadmill analysis is an essential part of the diagnosis and treatment of our injured runners. If you have been sidelined from running due to pain or are experiencing recurrent injuries with running, you would certainly benefit from physical therapy. 

But First…The Exam

Your initial exam will include assessments of your range of motion, strength, flexibility, stability and mobility. We will ask you questions about the frequency, length and intensity of your runs. We want to know about the type of ground you are running on, your shoes, your previous musculoskeletal injuries, and even concurrent health information about your nutrition and sleep habits. When the status of your injury is stable enough to have you run on the treadmill, your exam will also include this video based analysis.

Running Analysis

With each running analysis, we consider your speed, the sound your foot makes when hitting the ground, and your cadence/step rate. We then take a video from the front, back, right and left sides of you to give us a comprehensive assessment of your movement in all planes of motion. We analyze each of these planes, starting from your feet and working all the way up to your head. Throughout the gait cycle, we are grossly interested in the lean of your trunk, your head position, and your arm swing. We further drill down in our analysis by viewing the major phases of running in each plane of motion: 

  • Initial contact: when your foot hits the ground
  • Midstance: as your body is advancing over your planted foot
  • Push off: just as the foot leaves the ground
  • Swing: when your leg is off the ground

 

Sagittal plane (right and left views):

  • Initial contact
    • The position of your foot at strike: rearfoot, forefoot or midfoot
    • Foot inclination: is the angle between the sole of your shoe and the treadmill belt
    • Heel distance from center of mass: how far is your leg striking in front of your torso
    • Tibial inclination: the alignment of your lower leg in relation to a vertical line
    • The amount of knee bend, ideally about ~20 degrees

 

  • Midstance
    • What is the most your knee flexes/bends: ideally it is ~40 degrees
    • What is the most your ankle dorsiflexes with the ideal being ~25-35 degrees
  • Push off
    • The amount of hip extension with ideal being ~10-20 degrees
    • Lumbar position 
    • Pelvic tilt (5-10 degrees)
  • Swing phase:
    • The amount of your vertical displacement between the highest point in float to the lowest point during stance 

 

Frontal plane (front and back views): 

  • The amount your legs cross over a line that would run down the center of your body
  • Peak pronation/arch drop which is typically ~8 degrees
  • Toeing in or out, which we call the Foot Progression Angle
  • Any sidebending in your trunk 
  • Any drop of your pelvis
  • The knee window, which is the gap between your knees

 

Depending on timing, your PT will either review your video with you in that session or the following. The goal is to explain what we see and how these findings could contribute to your running related pain. We will further correlate these findings with your strength, range of motion, flexibility, etc…

The Work

Based on your running analysis findings, your PT will work with you on gait retraining, offering techniques to improve your running mechanics. The goal of this is always to reduce pain and improve your efficiency.

One of the most common things we work on with patients is their cadence/step rate manipulation. Research has shown the ideal cadence for many runners to be ~180 steps/minute. In PT, we will ask you to try to increase your normal cadence by about 5%, while remaining at the same speed on the treadmill. Why 5% you ask? It has been found that a 5% increase in cadence can result in a 20% reduction in energy absorption at the knee. WHAT?! Listen up you runners with knee pain! By increasing one’s cadence while remaining at the same speed, you take a physically smaller step. This brings your foot underneath your center of mass when landing on your leg. The benefit of this is twofold: a reduction from impact at initial contact and a reduced need for your body to lay on the brakes as your torso continues to advance forward over your leg. We utilize metronomes, the RunCadence App, and verbal cueing such as “Turn your feet over faster” to help with cadence training.

So what are you waiting for? Give us a call to book an appointment now for your very own individualized running analysis. 

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We make every effort to include your healthcare professionals and exercise specialists in a cohesive plan to promote your optimal outcome. We want to truly understand what drives you toward recovery.
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After injuring myself during a gym session and getting little relief with massage therapy, I sought help with Avant on my shoulders and low back/hip issues. Kate was my PT and provided a full plan of how to get back on track and what exercises I could do at home and during my gym sessions. Each session targeted the areas Kate and I felt needed more attention during that week. After eight weeks I had better mobility and no pain, plus the gained knowledge of how I can stretch and exercise all of my problem areas that I still use to this day. I highly recommend Avant!
Taylor Bennett
Avant PT is an amazing place! I came here after receiving major foot surgery and the time I spent with Avant was instrumental in my recovery. After many months of regular sessions at Avant, primarily with Laura and Corissa, I was able to fully recover and return to my job as a ballet dancer. Exercises were well selected and explained, and I always felt at ease asking questions. It's hard to overstate how incredibly helpful everything l learned was and continues to be for my physical well-being. I will continue to come to Avant for any future PT needs and I highly recommend them to everyone else. I am incredibly thankful for everything you guys do.
Joe Silva
Fantastic experience with Avant Physical Therapy over the last 6 months recovering from lower back and knee injuries and then working on strength and flexibility to prevent future occurrences. Giovanna (Gio) was a fantastic therapist. I asked a lot of questions about why we did different exercises and she always took time to explain how different muscle groups interact in the body and how it connected to the goals we set. In addition, she is simply a lovely human to be around . Beyond Gio, Ronni and the rest of the front desk staff had great communication, were efficient with scheduling and super friendly.
Shaun Boyle
Ryan is the best physical therapist I have had the pleasure of working with. The care he provides is top-notch. He is professional in every manner of his work. The hard work he puts in to figuring out the best plan to getting someone back to full heath is top level. Best therapist around!
Matt Polster
Matt Polster
Professional soccer player for Chicago Fire SC
After playing eighteen years of competition soccer, seven years of professional soccer & five major surgeries, I was blessed with the best medical personnel I’ve ever had. I would trust Avant with any piece of my training/therapy, shoot MY LIFE!
Lauryn Hutchinson
Lauryn Hutchinson
Trinidad & Tobago Womens National Football Team
Hands down, the best PT I've ever been to. Laura is a wonderful, upbeat person and and amazing therapist, and unlike many PT's she spends the entire hour with you. She's also very good with difficult cases. I've had an ongoing back issue for several years and have tried everything. I'd pretty much given up on ever really getting better. In one month Laura helped me more than anyone else had been able to.
Tanya J.
As an 11 year NFL veteran running back, I have worked with many therapist and trainers. I appreciate Avant's ability to assess movement deficiencies, identify where the restrictions in my body are and come up with a detailed plan during treatment as well as for me to do on my own.
Tim Hightower
Tim Hightower
NFL Running Back
Can't recommend Brenna highly enough at Avant. Her guidance enabled me to return quickly from a significant muscle tear and get back to the outdoor activities I love. I now feel equipped to strengthen on my own, and help prevent injuries from skiing and climbing, which is extremely comforting. Appointments were filled with helpful guidance on exercises, scheduling was painless, she thoroughly and clearly answered any questions I had, and corresponding over email between appointments provided me with all the information I needed to heal and get stronger.
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