I'm curious about what happens with this?! I am guessing it varies but please tell me you don't need to run for long for them!
What information do you walk away with? Does it mean that you have the info to buy shoes yourself afterwards without needing to consult with anybody, and then you can repeat the gait analysis maybe every few years if you think it's necessary?
I plan to go at some point but it means driving a distance to a nearby town so I'm curious about what the experience is likely to be!
Written by
Ivegottheruns
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I feel that you are going to have loads of replies on this...
Many, many of our running friends have had, and do have this test....Although I am not one of them, I will pop this link here, where a few of your questions are answered.
I researched and researched the running shoes I was interested in , bought my first pair in my chosen brand, Adidas... road runners, then later a pair of hybrid... same brand. I have Road runners, hybrid and trail runners, All still the same brand, No issues for me with my shoes, or my running feet, because of my shoes, over nearly ten years of running,
So, the wet foot test worked...for me:. But, we are all wonderfully different, so, what is that old saying?
“You pays your money, you takes your choice”.
Keep us posted please, and I look forward to the replies
PS...
The quote first appeared in print in 1846 in the London magazine Punch.
Hi there. When I went for a gait analysis ( 5 yrs ago now) I didn’t even need to run! Just walked across a specific pad in bare feet and it measured my results. Came away with the measurements and the comfiest running shoes ever 😁. Good luck! I’m sure you’ll enjoy choosing new shoes 👟
Hi Ivegottheruns ! I had a gait analysis a few years ago and went with my daughter when she had hers. Both at the same place, both quite different as mine was just before the place I went updated their systems. It was at a running “lab” run by an elite runner who knew his stuff!
After a few questions about the kind of running she did, any injuries etc, my daughter was covered in wires and sticky circles and she ran for a short while on a treadmill whilst being videoed. It was then analysed in great detail (pronation, angle of footfall, length of stride etc etc), and she was advised what kind of shoe would suit her and tried a few pairs on with no obligation to buy there and then (although a discount was offered if she did).
Mine was a more manual approach - hand held video and nowhere near as techy, but the same basic premise. We both got a lot from it and *touch wood* have run injury free since!
No running indoors or videoing during gait analysis at my local independent specialist shop (France, early 2021.)
I was simply asked to stand, walk across the shop, and bend my knees. I was then given various shoes to try, first in the shop, then I was told to go and run for a couple of minutes outside. Once I'd decided which shoes I preferred, a device was attached to the top of the shoe, I was sent out to run again, and on return the data was analysed and explained.
I was very happy to buy there as the owner spent the best part of an hour with me and I felt the service was exceptionally good. I went back a few months later for my next pair of shoes.
Nowadays I have a good idea which shoes and brands work for my feet and the way I run. Being a cheapskate non-serious runner I generally read loads of reviews then buy in sales or on Vinted. Also, it's an hour's drive each way to the running shop, and I no longer work nearby.
That said, next time I want expert advice, I'll go back there, as they're much more knowledgeable and experienced than I am.
I’ve done it a couple of times. Both times someone has looked at the wear pattern on my old trainers, had a look at my feet standing in socks, then walking and running on a treadmill. They then picked some trainers they thought would suit and I ran in them on the treadmill and picked the ones that felt right. I was pleased with the results. It’s meant I know what sort of thing is best for me and I can look out for sale bargains!
My favourite time was when a Brooks rep was in store and brought cookies. Buying trainers is always a fun day but even better with free treats!
I've had a few where you run on a treadmill for about a minute, and they video your feet and ankles from behind. They then slow the film down and they can see if you pronate (bend in at the ankles) or supranate (bend out). Some people might say your natural gait doesn't need fiddling with, but personally I feel better in a cushioned shoe that supports my pronating ankles.
Shops vary, my shop gives the analysis free provided you buy something, if not they make a charge, £15 - £25 if I remember rightly. Seems fair to me, they are likely to spend a deal of time with you, and some even offer a return if you don't like your shoes, although that seems to be rare now. They are aware a lot of people will get the advice and buy online.
Me? I bought two pairs last time, but have since bought replacements of the same brand and model online.
I had a gait analysis about 3 years ago. I did a short run on a treadmill in neutral shoes (not mine, new ones from the shop) and then the assistant showed me a video so I could see how I was overpronating. He gave me a lot of different shoes to try and I ended up buying some. He did another video and sure enough everything was lining up properly in them.
I was impressed that when I mentioned that the most expensive pair didn't feel quite right he just took them away and found me something else (cheaper). No hard sell, just good advice.
I bought my second pair there as well but subsequent ones online (or once from Sports Direct as I just needed something cheap to double for walking and running on holiday when I knew I was unlikely to do more than a couple of short runs). It's about an hours drive so unfortunately not particularly convenient, which is a real pity.
I had gait analysis at a specialist running shop on a treadmill and if I never go on another treadmill in my life it will be too soon. (Plus the resulting shoes were the worst pair I've ever had - which happily at that time I was able to return and was then supplied with an excellent pair which I loved to pieces)
The key information is whether you are looking for shoes for running on roads and pavements and know you don't want minimalist shoes. If both those apply, there could be value in it, if not, nah.
Hmm very interesting that the views differ on this so much and also the analysis itself varies!
I suppose one fairly trivial thing that bothers me is having to travel up in my running gear and make my way across the city to the shop like that! May be easier to hide myself under a coat later on in the year! Also I worry I won't know which shoe feels better anyway. I always hated that part of shoe shopping when the assistant tells you to walk around and see how they feel. New shoes always feel a bit odd.
For now I only want the shoes for running on a treadmill but I'm hoping to use them outside sometimes too, probably for a few parkruns but for now my regular runs are easier to commit to on the treadmill. Yes, it's very VERY boring on there but more achievable whilst my youngest children are still small (5 ) and it's hard to get out when I want. Come next spring I want to think about the transition to being outside for most runs so I'm likely to use them for pavement runs at that stage I'd guess.
I also think my arch is normal but I can't say for sure what I need is neutral. My feet are quite wide I guess which is funny as i used to need special narrow shoes as a child. Currently I'm running barefoot or with minimalist shoes but I want something different to try. I had some old running shoes that were literally about 20 years old that i did try to use at first but unsurprisingly they weren't good!
Maybe I'd be OK just buying a neutral shoe myself for now and seeing how I go, then revise things next year?! It's hard to know where to start though, if I make the choice myself!
I can't see why you'd need to wear running gear for a gait analysis, just put on something that's easy to jog in. Which, for the record, I singularly failed to do first time round. Nobody cared, either in the shop or outside.
While personally Brooks suit me, you might hate them as your feet aren't mine. There's considerable variation even in neutral road shoes so I'd suggest you at least try shoes on before buying online. I'm in France so rarely order from UK sites, and the only actual physical chainstore I can recommend for running stuff is Decathlon.
I didn't wear running gear for my gait analysis, just make sure whatever you're in is loose enough that you can actually run in it, so I'd suggest no tight jeans, dresses or ball gowns!
Also, with deciding which feels best, running is a lot more dynamic than just walking slowly up and down a shoe shop. Pay attention to things like how snug and supported your ankles feel, are your toes bunching up, is anything digging in. Tiny differences in fit are subtle but they are there.
The wet foot test that Oldfloss suggests will give you a pretty good idea of whether you overpronate and this information can inform your decision as to what to do next.
Not an expert, but my guess is that if you're running on a treadmill this will be gentler than being outside so maybe buy neutral shoes and see how you go. I pay a lot of attention to my footwear, change them regularly etc and had a gait analysis. Husband will run in anything - he's currently using walking shoes. One of us has had foot problems and guess what, it wasn't him, so either he really is a man of steel or perhaps it's possible to overthink
Absolutely! And I take a pair of running socks with me when I'm trying on running shoes. Although I can't go near a treadmill without feeling dizzy so I tend to just trot up and down in the shop.
I once had to run outside the shop in a mall with all these shoppers around. That was interesting! I kept looking at the windows to see what was there…….”oooh look at that” 🤣
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
