What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis is a valuable tool for evaluating an athlete’s running form from head to toe. By analyzing movements from different angles—front, back, and side—coaches and physical therapists gain insights into an athlete’s biomechanics, helping point out areas for improvement and potential risk of injury. Whether you’re capturing this analysis outdoors or on a treadmill, here’s a guide to maximize the effectiveness of your gait analysis.
Recording a Gait Analysis
To perform a comprehensive gait analysis, capturing video from a few different angles is essential. The below video shows how the cameras can be set up to perform a gait analysis, from the full-body to specific angles. Here are some basic tips to get started:
- Full-Body Recording – Make sure the entire body is in view to capture all joint movements, from head to toe. This helps identify issues that may start at one joint but affect the entire kinetic chain.
- Choose the best angle – Record from the angles that highlight the athlete’s movement patterns most clearly — typically front, back, and side views. Each angle gives you unique insights into joint alignment, symmetry, and balance.
- Use Multiple Cameras for Different Angles – Onform’s multi-cam recording is ideal for simultaneously capturing multiple perspectives, so you can get a full picture of the gait.
Comparing Videos for Gait Analysis
With Onform, coaches can easily compare videos side-by-side to analyze changes in an athlete’s gait over time or from different angles. The below video shows how you can use Onform to compare the same athlete side-by-side. In this instance, we are comparing the athlete with and without shoes on to look for specific patterns in her gait. The arrows drawn on top of the two videos highlight the areas a physical therapist might be paying special attention to.
Benchmarking Against a Professional Runner
You can upload videos of a professional runner with a similar stride to compare an athlete’s gait to highlight differences, inefficiencies, and set goals.
Compare Before and After Videos
By comparing videos taken at different times side-by-side, you can see progress and identify specific areas of improvement or ongoing challenges.
Looking for Visual Differences
Using the side-by-side comparison tool also helps identify differences in stride, arm movement, and foot strike patterns, so you can see changes that are difficult to spot in real-time.
How Onform’s Tools Help You With Gait Analysis
Using tools for gait analysis help provide insights beyond what the naked eye can capture. Onform has a variety of tools that are useful for performing a gait analysis. The above video illustrates the drawing tools, and the ability to draw arrows, lines, and angles. The below video features one of Onform’s signature tools, the skeleton tracking tool.
- Skeleton Tool for Joint Angles
The skeleton tool overlays a skeletal frame on the athlete, helping visualize joint angle changes and movement patterns more clearly throughout the stride. - Drawing Tools for Detailed Analysis
With 10 drawing tools available, coaches can mark critical angles, track limb paths, and highlight asymmetries to provide precise feedback and targeted adjustments. - Slow-Motion Playback
It can be difficult to catch subtle differences when an athlete or patient is running or walking at normal speeds. Being able to play back videos in slow-motion, or even frame-by-frame allows you to spot potential areas to work on that could be causing larger issues up the chain.
Key Areas to Measure in Gait Analysis
Every athlete’s gait is unique, but there are common locations to focus on when evaluating running form. The below image points out the key parts of the body to observe when performing a gait analysis.
- Shoulder and Arm Movement
Assess for any height differences or uneven arm swings that could indicate an imbalance. - Hip Movement
Look for hip shifts or hikes, which can affect stability and efficiency. - Knee Alignment (Valgus/Varus)
Knee valgus (inward collapse) or varus (outward movement) can indicate biomechanical issues that may lead to injury. - Foot Strike
Examine foot strike patterns (heel, midfoot, or forefoot) and ensure they align with the runner’s goals and body mechanics.
With Onform’s video analysis tools, coaches and physical therapists can deliver precise, actionable feedback, helping athletes improve their running form and reduce injury risk. Download today to try for yourself and start your 14-day free trial!