How gait analysis can help you find your ideal running shoe

The age old-saying 'If the shoe fits, wear it' doesn't always cut it...

Comfort, cost, durability and style are amongst the most important factors when it comes to selecting a running shoe, but even when all those boxes are ticked satisfactorily, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll have found an ideal fit. Running is a natural form of exercise and at its most natural when you do so in your bare feet. Most surfaces require you to wear some form of footwear when you're stretching your legs out, however and the type of running shoe you wear can have a huge effect on your running technique and your ability to prevent the injuries that can come about as a result of exercise. That's where gait analysis comes in. By recording footage of your movement on a treadmill, gait analysis can help determine your foot type and the type of runner that best suits you in a matter of seconds. Life Style Sports provide a gait analysis service free of charge at outlets in Dundrum, Swords, Blanchardstown, Carrickmines and the new store on Grafton Street and I got to try it out for myself in the Dundrum outlet on a recent visit. Barry, the very helpful assistant, kitted me out in a pair of running shoes and filmed me running at a leisurely pace on a treadmill, located beside the footwear section, for approximately ten seconds. https://youtu.be/vH1qrqzz8YA By examining the footage above, he was able to determine my foot type was neutral, one of three foot types, meaning my body weight was distributed pretty evenly throughout my foot while running. Those with a high arch can fall into the category of underpronation, where body weight tends to remains on the outside of the foot and can lead to injury. People with flat arches on their feet, meanwhile, are likely to overpronate, where runners are inclined to push off from their toes, leading to uneven distribution of impact throughout the foot, which can also lead to injury. If the gait analysis finds that you are inclined to overpronate, then a running shoe focused on stability is most appropriate. Runners with a neutral foot type or with a high arch, meanwhile, are more suited to running shoes that are built with cushioning as the main priority, such as the adidas Boost runners below. People who run on a regular basis are probably well aware of their own little quirks when it comes to their style of running, but considering that it's free and takes less than a minute, undergoing a gait analysis can be beneficial for novices and experienced runners alike. And if it helps prevent an injury down the line, then it'll be well worth it.