True gait analysis can only be done on a hard surface where maximal pronation(supination) can be witnessed. Making a gait assessment and resulting shoe recommendation for a runner or walker based on anything softer, such as a treadmill, will cause an eighty to ninety percent error in their fitting when they return to their normal road running surface. Injuries will therefore result.

Running on a treadmill usually involves a shorter stride, an aided weight transfer and reduced pronation. Pronation is the number one cause of below-the-waist injuries in runners and walkers. It must be kept within certain parameters. If the participant only uses the treadmill during their activity than obviously assessing shoe/gait combinations on a treadmill is near perfect.

However, most runners/walkers use the road, the sidewalk or possibly trail ground. All of these are firmer surfaces than that of a treadmill. They therefore invalidate a treadmill gait assessment, because firmer surfaces increase dangerous foot/ankle roll that must be counteracted by proper footwear/orthotics. There is no assistance from a moving treadmill and less shock absorption when running on these outdoor surfaces.

So, before you waste money or get injured with the wrong gait assessment tool, be sure to have your shoe selection based on the medically trained eye of a foot/ankle gait expert. Treadmills are a catchy gimmick that are only truly valid if all the athletes’ activity is done indoors exclusively on them.