Running means different things to everyone: for some, it is a fun, social activity at the weekend, while for others it can mean going all in on gruelling, competitive race days. Yet, ultimately, it really comes down to one, overarching movement: one foot in front of the other. As industry leaders in the Gait Analysis fitting process, we use a personalised approach combined with the latest technologies to ensure all our customers are kitted out with footwear specific to their own individual needs.
GAIT ANALYSIS STEP-BY-STEP
At The Run Hub we take all the guesswork out of shoe selection by helping you figure out what shoe YOU need and what suits YOUR unique running style/gait. Finding the right shoe can make a world of difference in terms of comfort and help avoid injuries and make your running more enjoyable. All of our team are runners and are fully trained in all areas of running biomechanics.
The Run Hub offers Natural Gait Analysis and use expert video analysis to record and breakdown your running gait piece by piece. This process involves an initial assessment of your arch heights, foot width and size, an injury history discussion, followed up by you doing a short jog on our customised track with a full video analysis by one of our running team experts.
Following this, we then carry out a second Gait Analysis of you running in a range of different brands and shoe types suited to your gait. e.g. neutral cushioned, stability or motion control shoes.
All of our team are fully trained in gait analysis and combine this with extensive knowledge of the anatomy of the feet and legs, and a comprehensive understanding of running related injuries.
Not only will a visit to one our stores get you in the right shoes, you can also avail of the extensive knowledge about all things running our friendly team have to offer. Our aim is to help you improve your biomechanic efficiency, optimise performance, reduce risk of injury and ultimately bring more comfort and enjoyment to your running.
book your gait analysis in one of our 3 locations:
GAIT ANALYSIS
1 PERSON ONLY
For the safety and comfort of others: please come to your booking by yourself and without guests wherever possible.
Wear the right gear
We recommend wearing appropriate clothing for light jogging. Try avoid restrictive clothing like jeans, suits, skirts etc. that may be uncomfortable.
Food-free zone
For the safety and comfort of others, we kindly request that no open food or drink containers are brought into the store.
Some Gait Analysis FAQ's
What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis is the study of human motion to identify biomechanical inefficiencies and help identify running/walking related problems that may result in injury.
What Are The Different Types of Running Gait?
Generally speaking runners are classified into 3 main types :
neutral (very slight ankle roll), pronators (ankle rolls inwards) and supinators/underpronator (ankle rolls outwards).
In terms of pronation, the word 'over-pronation' is often used but this is not technically correct as there is no standard against which to measure the degree of pronation and thus classify it as ‘over-pronation’.
What is the Gait Cycle?
In general, there are 3 different phases of the gait cycle:
1. Contact Phase
This begins when the foot makes contact with the ground, usually the outside of the heel first. It ends when the foot is in full contact with the ground. Here we take a look at the alignment from ankle to knee to hips and see how the ladder affect looks.
2. Mid-Stance Phase
During mid-stance the foot is now in full contact with the ground and the foot and legs act as a platform to allow the weight to pass over. We will now have a look at the degree of pronation and if the foot is still pronating then there is too much instability. We also see people who under- pronate where the foot stays on the outside during the mid-stance phase and those that are lucky enough to have a neutral foot strike.
3. Propulsive Phase
This is the final stage of the gait cycle. It begins immediately as the heel lifts off the ground. As the big toe dorsi-flexes the windlass mechanism comes into play, tightening the plantar fascia and helping to raise the arch of the foot. This mechanism is very important since it allows the foot to act as an efficient lever.
How Often Does One Need To Get a Gait Analysis?
We recommend that you get analysed at least once every 12-18 months as variations in levels of fitness, injury history and weight can all impact on your running form.
What Is The Best Shoe For Running?
No two runners are the same and as a result there is no one shoe that suits all. Runners differ in fitness, weight, biomechanic efficiency, degree of pronation and many more variables, all of which make the shoe fitting process a far more complicated process than some people believe.
What if I Already Have Orthotics?
It is our belief that while there is no one shoe that suits all, there is a shoe on the market for everyone. In extreme circumstances, runners may have to resort to customized orthotics. We always advise that this should be a last resort and not a route to take unless all else fails. At The Run Hub, all of our team are experts in fitting custom made orthotics that have been prescribed by various practitioners. Orthotic depth, width and background knowledge of the reason for the orthotics are all factors in correct shoe selection to optimise the effects on one’s biomechanics
How Much Does a Gait Analysis Cost?
Gait analysis is free with the purchase of any pair of full priced footwear. If you decide not to purchase footwear on your visit then we will apply a €35 service charge. *We may also apply the charge to reduced footwear at our discretion.
How Long Does a Gait Analysis Take?
Typically you need to put aside 30-40 minutes for a thorough analysis and also allowing time to try on different footwear options.