How To Evaluate Your Running Gait

If you’re a runner, whether you’re a world class athlete who want to go for the Gold in the Olympics or a Weekend Warrior who wants to train a 5k or 10k to get back in shape or keep up with the kids, you want to perform at your best and injury free.

A gait analysis is a great method for identifying biomechanical abnormalities in the gait cycle.

It’s a tool used to assess the way in which you walk and run. It can be beneficial in that it can identify any overactive or underactive muscles in the feet, which could lead to potential injuries and inefficiencies that you’re currently experiencing or may encounter in the future.

The Foot Posture Index (FPI) devised by Dr. Anthony Redmond in 2004 uses six quality measurements to assign subjects a score where 0 is neutral and positive numbers signal degree of pronation, negative numbers degree of supination. It iss a novel method of rating foot posture using set criteria and a simple scale.

It is a clinical tool used to quantify the degree to which a foot is pronated, neutral or supinated.

It is a measure of standing foot posture and so is not a replacement for gait assessment where time and facilities exist.

It is however a more valid approach than many of the static weightbearing and non-weightbearing goniometric measures currently used in clinic.