Treadmill Gait Analysis in Belfast

Gotto Sports now has the latest Dartfish Gait Analysis machine installed, making sure that we continue to offer the complete and cutting edge service that our customers expect.

Having your running gait assessed before you begin training is essential. Running shoes are specifically designed to address a vast variety of foot shapes, weight differences, and biomechanical anomalies. It is difficult to know which shoe will work best for you - this is where our expert consultants come in. The first step to being correctly fitted for running shoes is to have your gait analysed.

At Gottosports, we will assess your gait and foot strike as you test different shoes on a treadmill. Video feedback will let you see what we see and show you how different shoes will work for you.

From here, running shoes can be recommended in order to make your running style as efficient as possible and help reduce the risk of injury. We can show you the difference in biomechanical efficiency when running in more corrective footwear, with 'before and after' videos playing side by side on the computer screen.

Under Pronator

Runners who under pronate are rare. The gait cycle takes the foot from heel strike to propulsion on the outside of the foot. Under pronation, like over pronation, can cause a number of injuries which could severely hamper your training.

Over-Pronator

It is estimated that that around 70% of runners over pronate. Over pronators tend to land on the very outer edge of the heel and as the foot progresses through the movement, it rolls inwards causing the inner forefoot to take excessive pressure. This places a larger amount of stress on the inside of the foot through the "mid stance" and "propulsion" stage of the running movement. Over a short period of time, this poses no problem to the runner who is likely to be unaware of any present or potential injury. However, over time this imbalance causes certain muscles to over work, leading to pain and inflammation in the ankles, shins, knees and hips.

REMEMBER

Incorrect shoes for your gait can lead to a number of injuries from ankle pain to hip pain. Your running gait, put simply, is the way in which you run. Imagine the way a car is set up. If the set up is incorrect or out of kilter, the tyres (your trainers) can wear unevenly and place stress on the axle (your legs).

By choosing the right shoes, you can redress the imbalance and greatly reduce the risk of contracting a "bio-mechanical" injury.