Where to get a running gait analysis
Pick the place by what you need: shoe fitting, an injury, detailed testing, or tracking your gait over time.
Updated Oct 2026Choose by your goal
| Option | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Running store | Shoe fit and comparison | A retail fitting, not a diagnosis |
| Physical therapist or podiatrist | Pain, injury, rehab, foot and ankle questions | Methods vary; ask what's included |
| Sports-medicine clinic | A suspected injury that needs a diagnosis | May refer you elsewhere for gait testing |
| Biomechanics lab | Detailed, controlled measurement | Limited access; one session |
| STRIV | How your gait changes across real runs | Educational, not a diagnosis |
In the US, find a physical therapist through the APTA directory [5] or a podiatrist through the APMA directory. [6]
Where STRIV fits
STRIV measures pressure and motion under both feet on every run: a motion pod on each shoe and 128 pressure sensors under each foot. It shows how timing, pressure, estimated force and left–right balance change across steps and sessions. It complements a store, clinic or lab visit; it does not diagnose injury. [3]
STRIV tested its measurements against a Bertec force-plate treadmill (24 runners, more than 40,000 steps): changes in peak force and ground contact time tracked with r = 0.975. These are STRIV’s own published results. See the validation [7]
Before you book, ask
- Is this a shoe fitting, a clinical assessment or a performance test?
- What is measured: video, pressure, wearable sensors, force plates or motion capture?
- Will I run on a treadmill or overground, and at what speed?
- Do I get the results in writing?
One test is not the whole story
Gait changes with speed, fatigue, shoes and surface, and treadmill running is close to, but not the same as, running outside. [2] A single measurement also says little about future injury on its own. [1] Read any result in the context it was taken.
If you have persistent pain, a recurring injury or numbness, start with a clinician, not a store fitting.
How much does a running gait analysis cost?
It depends on the provider. Stores often bundle it with a shoe fitting; clinics and labs usually charge separately. Ask what the fee includes.
Can I do a running gait analysis at home?
Yes, with video or a wearable such as STRIV, which records your gait on every run. At-home tools don't replace a clinical exam when pain or injury is involved.
Is treadmill gait analysis accurate?
It's useful under controlled conditions, but treadmill and overground running are not identical. [2,4]
Can STRIV replace a clinical gait analysis?
No. STRIV adds repeated measurements from real runs; a clinician adds history, examination, diagnosis and treatment.
- Peterson B, Hawke F, Spink M, et al. Biomechanical and Musculoskeletal Measurements as Risk Factors for Running-Related Injury in Non-elite Runners. Sports Medicine - Open, 2022.
- Van Hooren B, Fuller JT, Buckley JD, et al. Is Motorized Treadmill Running Biomechanically Comparable to Overground Running? Sports Medicine, 2020.
- Mason R, Pearson LT, Barry G, et al. Wearables for Running Gait Analysis: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 2023.
- Souza RB. An Evidence-Based Videotaped Running Biomechanics Analysis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 2016.
- American Physical Therapy Association. Find a PT.
- American Podiatric Medical Association. Find a Podiatrist.
- STRIV. Validation: Bertec force plate and Footscan.
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