Most running injuries and disappointing shoe purchases trace back to the same root cause: nobody analysed how the runner actually moves before recommending a shoe. Gait analysis fixes that. Here's what it is, why it matters, and what to expect from a professional assessment.
What Is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis is the process of assessing how your foot and leg move through each phase of your running stride — from initial ground contact through to toe-off — to identify patterns that could affect performance or increase injury risk. It's used to answer two practical questions: is anything in your movement pattern putting you at risk, and which type of shoe actually supports the way you run.
Why Gait Analysis Matters for Runners
Every runner's stride is different — influenced by foot shape, strength, flexibility, and years of movement habits. Two runners with the same shoe size can need completely different shoe categories. Gait analysis matters because it replaces guesswork with data on:
- Pronation pattern — how much your foot rolls inward after landing.
- Symmetry — whether one side of your body is compensating for the other.
- Impact loading — how much vertical force travels through your body with each stride.
- Dynamic stability — how controlled your movement is through stance phase.
Picking a shoe based on these factors — rather than looks or what a friend recommended — is one of the most effective, low-cost ways to reduce your injury risk as a runner.
Types of Gait Analysis
Not all "gait analysis" is equal:
- Basic in-store observation: watching you walk or jog and looking at wear patterns on old shoes. Useful, but subjective.
- Treadmill video analysis: filming your stride from behind and the side for a visual breakdown.
- Wearable sensor-based analysis (RunEasi): a small sensor worn on a belt captures objective biomechanical data — impact loading, dynamic stability and symmetry — while you run, producing a measurable running quality score rather than a subjective visual impression.
What Durban Runner's RunEasi Assessment Involves
Our RunEasi assessment is a 60-minute, in-store session with our specialist running team. You run on a treadmill wearing a small sensor that objectively measures your running quality across symmetry, stability and impact loading. We use that data — alongside a visual assessment — to identify any inefficiencies and recommend the shoe category and any corrective work most likely to help. Runners who follow through on the recommendations typically see measurable improvement in their running quality score within a few months of consistent training.
Understanding Pronation
Pronation — the inward roll of your foot after it lands — is a normal, necessary part of shock absorption. Problems arise at the extremes: significant overpronation or underpronation (supination) can increase strain on the ankles, knees and hips over the volume of training a regular runner accumulates. Our Pronation Guide covers the three broad categories — neutral, overpronation and supination — in more depth.
Neutral vs Stability Shoes
Once your gait pattern is understood, shoe selection becomes far more straightforward:
- Neutral runners generally do best in a well-cushioned neutral trainer like the ASICS Novablast 5, which offers a lively, high-stack ride without built-in motion control.
- Runners who overpronate often benefit from a stability shoe such as the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 or the wide-fit New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15, both built with additional support structures through the midsole.
Browse our full men's and women's stability ranges, or our men's and women's neutral ranges once you know your category.
Signs You Might Need a Gait Analysis
Consider booking an assessment if you recognise any of the following:
- Recurring niggles in the same spot — knees, shins, or heels — after increasing your mileage.
- Uneven wear patterns on the outsole of your current shoes (see our guide on signs your running shoes are worn out).
- You've struggled to find a comfortable shoe despite trying several models.
- You have flat feet, high arches, or wide feet and aren't sure what that means for shoe choice — see our guides on flat feet and wide feet.
- You're starting a significant training block, such as marathon or Comrades Marathon training, and want to reduce injury risk from the outset.
How Often Should You Get a Gait Analysis?
A gait analysis is worth repeating whenever something changes — a new injury, a significant jump in training volume, a new goal race, or simply once every year or two as your strength and movement patterns evolve. It's also worth doing before investing in a new pair of shoes if it's been a while since your last assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gait analysis worth it for recreational runners?
Yes — you don't need to be an elite athlete to benefit. Matching your shoe to your actual movement pattern is one of the most effective, low-cost ways any runner can reduce injury risk and improve comfort.
Is overpronation bad?
Not inherently — some degree of pronation is normal and necessary for shock absorption. It becomes a concern at the extremes, particularly when combined with weakness, poor footwear match, or a sudden increase in training load.
Can gait analysis prevent injury?
It can significantly reduce risk by identifying inefficiencies and shoe mismatches before they cause overuse injuries, though it can't guarantee an injury-free training block on its own — training load, strength work and recovery all play a role too.
How do I book a RunEasi assessment at Durban Runner?
You can book directly via our RunEasi Assessment page — the session takes around 60 minutes and is run by our specialist in-store running team.
Ready to find out how you really run? Book your RunEasi gait analysis with Durban Runner's specialist team today.