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What Happens to Your Running Stride When You Get a Professional Gait Analysis
If you’re a runner, you’ve likely been flooded with a million and one ways to hunt down a new personal best. You’ve been promised the perfect carbon-plated shoe, handed a laundry list of mandatory strength exercises, and sold energy gels that swear they’ll carry you past mile 16 with ease. While those tools certainly have their place, there is a far more powerful weapon that most runners completely ignore. A professional gait analysis can unlock performance gains that gear and supplements simply can’t touch.
Typically, people treat a running analysis like an emergency room visit, utilizing it only when a chronic injury is already looming. I want to flip that thinking. Even for average runners, a running gait analysis can teach you a lot about how you run and ideally help you feel better while doing it. As a consistent 15-to-20 mile-per-week runner who has thankfully remained injury-free, I went into a recent analysis assuming it was a luxury. I walked out, realizing it was a roadmap.
“Technique changes occur across all sports, and running is no different,” says Tim Hilden, MSPT, ATC, a gait analysis specialist at the CU Sports Medicine Lab and Performance Center. “The fallacy is that people settle into the running style that is best for them; the reality is that some people just get really good at being bad.”
I never realized my stride was “bad” until something started to bother me. Read on to learn what to expect from a running-gait analysis appointment and how it can correct those hidden flaws, so you can finally get better at being a good runner.
What Is a Running Gait Analysis?
When I went in for my first gait analysis, I knew relatively what to expect—I’d run, get a video, see what didn’t align or look wonky, and be on my way. What actually happened was so much more than that.
A running gait analysis has three components: a physical exam and movement evaluation, treadmill running video analysis, and coaching to correct movement quality, improve mobility, or address whatever needs to change. Below, I dive into exactly what happened during my analysis.
How Stride Tracking Unlocks Running Efficiency and Durability
For many runners, this type of analysis is a reactive measure used only after an injury or pain has already set in. However, you don’t have to wait until you are hurt to get one. A proper assessment can dramatically improve your baseline performance and running efficiency. It’s also incredibly valuable if you’re at a transition point in your training, says Dane N. DeLozier, PT, DPT, LAT, ATC, NASM-PES of Revo PT and Sports Performance. If you are prepping for a marathon and need to ramp up your weekly mileage, an analysis is an excellent way to kick off that training block while building durability at the same time.
Related: How to Start Running: An Expert’s Guide for Beginners and Returning Runners
Where to Find a Professional Assessment
Search for local physical therapy offices that specialize in sports rehab, as many will offer a running gait analysis. Some running stores offer gait analysis, as do other businesses that provide bodywork, such as chiropractic offices. In some cases, a gait analysis could be considered physical therapy and covered by insurance.

Inside the Lab and the Three Stages of a Stride Evaluation
The first part of the analysis is the physical exam portion, which looks at joint mobility and range-of-motion testing, along with strength and movement quality testing. At my exam, mobility in my hips, ankles, feet, and toes was assessed, as well as muscular force/tension, which is the pulling force of certain muscles against resistance.
“During this component, we are gathering data on single-leg stability, foot posture, and lower extremity motor control, among others,” says DeLozier. This can point to any limiting factors that may be related to a runner’s main complaint. Filming your running technique can be a helpful exercise, but linking it with what they find during the physical allows for a more comprehensive overall analysis.
After that, you’ll hop on a treadmill to record a video of your running form from the front, back, and side, and analyze it in slow motion using video and various motion-capture systems. I was surprised by how little I had to run; the initial look at my physical structure and body mechanics lasted longer than the running part. Within a few minutes of walking slowly, walking fast, and then running at my regular pace, the videos captured my running patterns for analysis.
Hilden looks at the magnitude of movements as well as their timing or control. “Sometimes it is not how far a person moves into a movement but rather how quickly they get there,” he says.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Interval Training: How to Suffer Your Way to a Faster PB
Next, it was time to watch myself run. With the help of the physical therapist, it was very easy and obvious to see where my form wasn’t quite right. Using the computer screen and software, we looked at my stride and foot placement frame by frame. You can also see the angles of different joints, such as during a foot strike, how your joints line up from your ankle to knee to hip, or even horizontally from hip to hip. Other areas highlighted in the slowed-down frames include posture, arm swing, and hip swing.
With the help of movement analysis software, a running gate analysis can show different angles and assess the body’s relative positional references on a frame-by-frame basis. As DeLozier says, to really fine-tune a runner’s technique, high-speed motion capture is critical to be able to make accurate comparisons and slow the video down while observing.
“With high-speed cameras, we are able to slow down all movement and thoroughly assess movement at each joint, each segment, and so on to connect as many dots as possible,” he says.
Last is the coaching part, where I was taught how to adjust my form to prevent any further foot pain. I hopped back on the treadmill, tried the new technique a few times while walking and running, and was then told how to implement this change gradually into my runs to avoid further injuries. In reality, this was an easy fix. I didn’t need insoles (a common recommendation for various ailments), nor did I necessarily need to come back again and do more analysis or physical therapy.

The Specific Injuries and Flaws a Stride Evaluation Fixes
“The majority of runners I see in the Gait Analysis Lab are there because of injury or pain,” Hilden says. Hopefully, that’s not why you want a running gait analysis, but if it is, getting specific advice on how to change your form can be game-changing. “I will also see people who are either new to running and wanting to prevent injury, or those who are wondering if their challenges with improving performance may be related to how they run. For those individuals, the process is the same.”
If you are experiencing pain, a gait analysis can help determine which mechanical influences are causing it and address the movement issues that may be driving it. The most common aches and pains that DeLozier evaluates during his analysis are anterior knee pain, plantar/achilles pain, and hip pain.
“If a runner is struggling with ongoing pain while training or they are looking to stop recurring knee pain from returning, a gait analysis is an excellent investment,” he says.
Related: Experts Reveal the Best Running Workouts to Increase Speed and Endurance
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Author: Mattie Schuler
Rafael Jodar Family & Girlfriend History: His Dad Is a Tennis Coach
Rafael Jodar has generated headlines at the French Open 2026 and not only for his play. He was involved in a controversy over whether he shoved a ball girl, but he denied the accusation, and video appears to exonerate him.
As he advances through round after round at the tournament, that has some fans wondering about his family and girlfriend history. Is he dating anyone? What’s his biography? It appears that Jodar is single, or he keeps any girlfriend history private. Unlike other tennis players, such as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, he doesn’t have a girlfriend or wife front and center in the stands. Jodar’s rise in professional tennis rankings has been described as “meteoric.”
Rafa Jodar’s Instagram page is focused on his tennis career and is silent about any girlfriend or relationship. Of course, the Spanish tennis phenom, who is currently ranked 29th in the world, is only 19 years old. However, his father is prominently visible in his life.
Rafael Jodar’s Father Is a Tennis Coach Who ‘Guided’ His Career

(Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
According to The New York Times, Jodar’s dad, also named Rafael, was instrumental in his success. The father is “a women’s basketball coach, physiotherapist and now a largely self-taught tennis coach, who has guided his son,” The Times reported.
At one recent match, the father “sat stoic and alone — no hometown entourage in sight — in the courtside players’ box. Even when the match tightened, he was mostly still and silent,” The Times reported.
“He wants Rafa to have adversity,” Brian Rasmussen, the assistant coach for the men’s team at Virginia, told The Times. “He wants his son to work through these things.”
Rafael Jodar Says He Was Speaking to His Dad When the Ball Girl Fell
According to People, Jodar denied pushing the ball girl.
“No, I didn’t touch her. I mean, I would never do that,” Jodar said in a press conference. “She was walking backwards… I didn’t push her or anything. I was saying to my dad to give me the things he was going to give me after my toilet break when I was coming back.”
He added: “But yes, she was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way going backwards. But I think she fell, not because I pushed her, but because it was something… the cover, was right behind her.”
Rafa Jodar’s Bio Says His Parents Are His ‘Heroes’
Jodar has called his parents his heroes, according to his ATP Tour bio, which reads, “Started playing tennis at home when he was 4. Since then, he has liked the sport. Enjoys playing and watching tennis a lot and usually practices at his tennis club in Madrid. Says his parents are his heroes.”
The bio also gives tidbits about his life, revealing, “Says his secret talent is his music taste, and Coldplay is his favorite band. Says his best quality is playing soccer, and his worst quality is cooking. Favorite school subject is Math. Hobby is playing chess. Enjoys Spanish food.”
The bio adds, “Favourite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean and actor is Johnny Depp. Favourite TV show is Outer Banks and book is Harry Potter.”
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Author: Jessica McBride
4 Takeaways From Denny Hamlin Snatching Win From Christopher Bell In Nashville
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Walmart Sells a Pair of $15 Wrangler Jeans That Have Over 20,000 Perfect Ratings
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
In This Story
Why We Love This Deal
I used to think clothes shopping at Walmart was like fishing in a swimming pool: not likely to be successful. But after covering the retailer for years and seeing all kinds of great deals on clothing pop up there, I’ve revised my opinion. The retailer has jaw-dropping bargains on men’s clothing, if you know where to look. Let me point you in the direction of the Wrangler Rustler jeans. Crafted from sturdy 100% cotton and costing less than a takeout lunch, they’re easily one of Walmart’s best apparel deals for men, period.
Walmart is selling Wrangler’s Rustler Regular Fit Jeans for just $15, a superb bargain for a pair of name-brand blue jeans (no discount necessary). For comparison, these Wranglers are a better deal than similar value-oriented pairs from Uniqlo, Lee, Levi’s, and Old Navy. The price isn’t what sticks out the most, though; it’s the reception. Walmart shoppers have absolutely showered these jeans with praise, giving them almost 25,000 perfect ratings for their quality, fit, and feel.
Wrangler Rustler Regular Fit Jeans, $15 at Walmart
What Shoppers Should Know
- Colorways Available: 3
- Sizes Available: 29-54W, 29-36L
- Fabric: 100% cotton
- Fit: Regular
- Fly: Zipper
Rustler is a sub-brand under Wrangler, and onlinereviewers say Rustler jeans offer respectable quality at an incredibly affordable price. This particular pair is a standout option: In a sea of low-priced, synthetic-blended jeans, it’s made from good old 100% cotton. That gives it a leg up (no pun intended) in terms of durability and overall feel—there’s no synthetic, plasticky texture here.
Otherwise, the jeans follow a mostly classic layout with a zipper fly, button closure, belt loops, and four pockets (the lack of a change pocket is the only deviation from the standard five-pocket jeans design). These jeans have a regular fit, but there are other options, too: Opt for a relaxed fit if you want more room in the thigh, and the straight fit should work well for slimmer builds.
Although the Rustlers’ cotton fabric might not be as thick as premium denim, it’ll work just fine for daily wear. Given their affordable price, they’re also a superb choice for yard work and other situations where you’ll be getting dirty—you can save your pricey selvedge denim for date night.
Related: Huckberry’s Bestselling Selvedge Jeans Are on Sale for Only $77
What Shoppers Are Saying
The Wrangler Rustler jeans are the best-rated item I’ve ever seen at Walmart. Amid that deluge of positive feedback, one clear trend emerges: The cost-to-quality ratio on these jeans is blowing Walmart shoppers away. “You CANNOT beat the price for the fantastic quality,” said one shopper. Others praised their hardy construction and “well-made” feel, and they noted the cotton fabric and comfortable fit make them “great jeans for daily wear.”
At just $15 a pair, there’s no reason to schlep around in subpar jeans. Snag a pair or two of these Wrangler Rustlers, and you’ll always have some quality denim in your drawer.
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Brat Summer Style Was Huge, But the Fashion From Charli XCX’s New Album Looks Even Better
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Naomi Osaka Dating History: Former Boyfriend Cordae Fathered Her Only Child, Shai
Professional tennis player Naomi Osaka is currently single. However, the professional tennis player’s dating history includes a high-profile romance with former boyfriend Cordae, a rapper who fathered her only child.
Cordae was at Osaka’s side in 2020 when she won the U.S. Open, according to Elle. When she won, Elle reported, the rapper “was seen jumping up excitedly and thumping his fist against his chest.” There is video of the moment.
Despite taking time off from the sport after having her daughter, Osaka has been back for some time, and she is competing in the 2026 French Open.
Naomi Osaka & Cordae Have a Child Together, a Daughter Named Shai
According to Elle, the couple had a daughter together named Shai in 2023. But by January 2025, Osaka announced they had broke up, declaring, there there was “no bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad,” Elle reported.
“Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together,” she added, according to ESPN, which noted that she took about 15 months off from the sport.
Osaka today keeps her personal life private. Her Instagram page is mostly focused on her fashions off and on the court. Cordae only has a few posts on his Instagram.
Cordae Was Naomi Osaka’s Boyfriend for 6 Years

(Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
According to People, the relationship was a long one. It lasted six years.
The couple “had their first public date at an L.A. Clippers game in 2019,” People reported, noting that they managed to keep the relationship a secret for about a year. They were photographed at a basketball game and on the red carpet together during the relationship.
Over the years, Osaka gushed about Cordae on her Instagram page, although the posts no longer appear there. For example, in 2020, she wrote, according to People, “I later found out that he hopped on a plane shortly after that call and then quarantined himself for a couple days in a hotel to see me and support.”
She also gushed about him on his birthday, but later deleted that post too. It read, according to People, “I always feel so lucky to be in your life and to be continuously learning from you,” she captioned her post at the time. “I’m so grateful that I can talk to you about anything and ask for advice (cause you know I need all the help I can get lol). I love that you lay down and wait for me to go to sleep before you go record.”
Naomi Osaka Has Discussed Motherhood to Daughter Shai
Osaka has embraced motherhood and spoken openly about her desire to help her daughter.
“I would say for me, I just want to be the best version of myself. Obviously, I’ve never been a mother before so I’m taking it day-by-day and just trying to be someone that my son or daughter will be proud of,” she said, according to People.
Cordae told Hot 97that he didn’t even know who Osaka was when he first met her because the only women’s tennis player he really knew was Serena Williams.
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Author: Jessica McBride


