Introduction
Running is one of the most natural forms of movement—until it hurts. Whether you’re training for a 5K or casually jogging on Bayshore, pain during or after your runs isn’t something to ignore. At Alliance Regen & Rehabilitation in St. Petersburg, FL, we help runners of all levels get to the real root of their pain: poor gait mechanics.
In this post, Dr. Brian Broussard, DPT and lower extremity rehab specialist, breaks down how your running gait might be setting you up for discomfort—and what to do about it.
What Do We Look For In A Medical Running Analysis?
During your running assessment, we evaluate key elements that affect your performance and injury risk, such as:
Stride Length and Cadence: Optimizing cadence can help reduce excessive loading on the joints.
Foot Strike Pattern: Heel striking vs. midfoot striking can impact force distribution and injury risk.
Hip and Pelvic Control: Poor control can lead to injuries such as IT Band syndrome and hip pain.
Knee and Ankle Alignment: Misalignments can contribute to conditions like Achilles tendinitis and meniscus injuries.
Posture: Proper posture reduces strain and improves efficiency.
Pronation Angles: Evaluating foot movement to prevent overuse injuries.
Arm Swing: Proper arm movement can enhance balance and running efficiency.
Vertical Displacement: Managing bounce to conserve energy and avoid impact-related injuries.
Common Pain Complaints in Runners That We See in St. Petersburg
Through years of assessing runners, here are some of the most common pain complaints that runners have…
- Knee Pain: Common knee injuries like patellar tendonitis, IT-Band Syndrome, or Meniscus Injuries can occur due the following…
High ground impact force with straight knee
Valgus due to poor single leg control
Hamstring and Quad muscle imbalance
- Hip Pain: Common hip injuries like glute medius tendinosis, labrum tears or hip flexor strains can occur due the following…
Hip strength and stability issue
Mobility or soft tissue restriction
Overuse or increased stride length
- Shin Splints and Calf Tightness: Common shin injuries like shin splints, calf strains, and compartment syndrome can occur due the following…
- Calf tightness
- Mileage increase or shoe issue
- Ankle restriction
- Low Back Pain: Common back injuries like low back strains, stenosis, or SI Joint sprains can occur due the following…
- Poor core control and strength
- Hip flexor tightness or tight anterior hip capsule
- Poor posture
- Heel & Arch Pain: Common ankle injuries like achille tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, or posterior tibial tendonitis can occur due the following…
- Limited ankle mobility
- Poor foot and ankle stability
- Forefoot running
- Ankle tightness
When identifying the cause of a running injury, your running gait along along with biomechanical dysfunctions always prove to be revealing. If a runner does have any of these flaws, your running specialist at Alliance Regen & Rehab will identify them and helps re-train your run by using cues, drills, stability training, or hands on techniques. These insights become crucial when returning to run at the end of physical therapy to ensure a safe return. If no injury is present, addressing these flaws early, runners can avoid chronic pain and continue training with confidence.
“If you’re experiencing one of these consistently, don’t assume it’s just tight muscles or bad shoes. Your gait—the way you run—could be the missing link.” — Dr. Broussard
Some other helpful blogs we’ve written are 3 Reasons Your Knee Hurts When You Run, 5 Ways To Improve Your Running Posture, and Video Running Analysis, Why Every Runner Needs One.
What is a Running Gait & Why Does It Matter?
Your gait is your movement signature. It includes everything from your foot strike to your pelvic control, trunk alignment, and arm swing. Even small compensations can lead to chronic overload, especially over hundreds of strides.
At Alliance Regen & Rehab, we perform detailed running gait assessments using slow-motion video analysis and in-person testing. It allows us to identify asymmetries and faulty movement patterns that aren’t obvious to the naked eye.
Why Choose A Video Running Analysis At Alliance Regen & Rehab
At Alliance Regen & Rehab, our Video Running Analysis isn’t just about watching you run; it’s about analyzing your movement through the lenses of Injury Prevention, Injury Rehab, and Performance. We go beyond a basic gait review to provide a deep dive into the mechanics of your stride, helping us uncover underlying issues that may be contributing to your pain or inefficiencies.
In fact, we don’t just analyze the run, but we also analyze other functional movements to get more of a viewpoint on things like ankle and hip mobility, balance, stability, muscle recruitment, etc. With vast experience in analyzing and treating hundreds of runners, our team of physical physical therapists are perfectly positioned to provide this insight and help you achieve your running goals.
If you are experiencing running related pain in St. Petersburg, you might be a great candidate for our Medical Running Analysis. You can learn more about it by checking our our medical running analysis page or calling our office to speak with one of our specialists.
Benefits Of Video Running Analysis
Investing in a Video Running Analysis can yield multiple benefits, including:
Injury Prevention: Identifying movement inefficiencies before they turn into injuries.
Performance Enhancement: Improved form means better efficiency and faster times.
Personalized Training Recommendations: Tailored exercises to address specific deficits.
Objective Feedback: Slow-motion video and data-driven insights allow for precise corrections.
American Journal of Sports Medicine
Gait Red Flags We Commonly See
- Overstriding – Your foot lands too far in front of your body, often with a locked knee. This increases braking forces and places excess load on the knees and hips.
- Pelvic Drop (Trendelenburg Sign) – Your pelvis shifts dramatically side-to-side, which can signal weak glutes and poor core control.
- Foot Collapse (Overpronation) – Your foot rolls in too much on contact, often linked with tibial stress, shin splints, or plantar fasciitis.
- Upper Body Tension or Rotation – Too much arm swing or spinal twisting during runs wastes energy and can create tension in the back, neck, or shoulders.
“Some of the strongest runners still get injured. That’s because it’s not just about strength—it’s about timingand coordination,” says Dr. Broussard.
We often uncover motor control deficits, poor shock absorption, or fatigue-induced compensations that develop over time. Without proper rehab, they turn into chronic injuries. These flaws have been studied and assessed by top kinesiologists and linked to common injuries. Check out this study!
How We Conduct Our Video Running Analysis
Our process is thorough and personalized, ensuring we get a clear picture of your running mechanics:
Initial Consultation: Understanding your injury history, goals, and current training regimen.
Video Capture: Using high-speed cameras to analyze your running from multiple angles.
Functional Movement Exam: Assessing strength, mobility, and stability.
Review: We review the findings and explain it to you so that you’re able to understand and learn.
- Plan Creation: We then outline a plan involving recommendations and treatment/coaching options to make the necessary adjustments!
When Should You Get a Running Gait Analysis at Alliance Regen & Rehab
- You’re currently running through pain
- You’ve had 2 or more injuries in the past year
- You’re increasing volume, pace, or terrain
- You’re returning from an injury (ankle, knee, hip, or back)
- You’re training for a race and want to stay injury-free
When Should You Get a Running Gait Analysis at Alliance Regen & Rehab
At Alliance Regen & Rehabilitation, we don’t throw a one-size-fits-all program at you. We blend:
- Manual therapy and myofascial work
- Running-specific strength and mobility
- Gait retraining drills (metronome running, cadence cues, posture resets)
Progressive loading plans to get you back to pain-free mileage
How To Get Started
If you’re dealing with nagging pain or want to optimize your running performance, our Video Running Analysis can provide the insights you need to run stronger and pain-free. Don’t let pain dictate your training—take proactive steps to improve your form and stay injury-free.