If you’re suffering from over training or just interested in your running style, you’re bound to have lots of questions for us – before, during and AFTER your appointment. We’re always here to help. In the meantime we’ve put together our most commonly asked questions.

What is Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis is the study of the way that you walk or run. At progait we study both visual information from motion analysis and pressure readings from state of the art pressure plate system and software.

How does it differ from what happens in a running shop?

Running shops often offer gait analysis for guidance in selecting a running shoe. This can be very valuable to inform people of the most suitable shoe for them.

We offer clinical gait analysis which is carried out by Podiatrists and Physiotherapists who are registered health professionals with a vast experience in injury diagnosis rehabilitation on biomechanics. They will study your whole body and assess ranges of motion, flexibility, strength and postural alignment.

What will happen during my appointment?

To begin with your Podiatrist will ask you to walk on the treadmill to warm up the muscles, this will then progress to a gentle jog and then up to a comfortable running speed

What should I wear for my appointment?

We would recommend that you bring some shorts with you so that we may capture the angles of your legs and feet as you run. Also, if you bring your normal running training and if you’ve recently got new ones, your old ones too.

How long will my appointment last?

The ProGait assessment lasts for about an hour but we recommend that you leave up to an hour and a half.

How long will I have to run for during my appointment?

We only need to capture about 30 seconds of your running data, but we will need you to run on the treadmill for as long as it takes to get into your comfortable running style. Obviously this depends on your type of running. Do you run 5k or are you training for a marathon? We may ask you to run for a little longer if you are training for a marathon as your running gait may change  once you get into your stride.

How many appointments will I need?

Generally speaking most people only require one appointment, however a lot of people choose to come back after a few months so that they can “see” the difference that their treatment programme or changes to their training has had. All you results from your first appointment are stored with your notes so that you will be able to compare before and after. A lot of people find this really helpful and motivation for continuing their strengthening and flexibility training.

In some cases, orthotics are recommended. Here at ProGait we manufacture our custom made orthotics on site and they are generally ready to take home with you on the day. Sometimes temporary devices are recommended to check a prescription before these are made into a permananent device. In these cases you may need to come back for a further appointment. However once you are happy with the orthotic prescription we recommend a 3 month review as your final appointment.