Leading up to our 2025 HAC Indoor Triathlon, we’re offering a four-part blog series with our partners from The Center for Physical Rehabilitation. In the Triathlon Zone, you’ll find tips and tricks for preparing for the event, staying healthy and safe, and having the best tri ever!
Gait Analysis: What’s in it for you?
Doug Wierenga, PTA, CEAS
A gait analysis is an essential tool for athletes, especially those competing in a triathlon, where performance, endurance, and injury prevention are key to success. While gait analysis primarily focuses on the running phase of a triathlon, the insights gained can significantly impact the overall efficiency and performance across all three stages. It is a tool that can help athletes in these five areas:
1. Improving Running Efficiency: Running in a triathlon is often the final stage, and by the time athletes hit the pavement, fatigue from swimming and cycling can affect their form. Gait analysis helps identify inefficiencies in an athlete’s running mechanics. It looks at parameters such as stride length, cadence, foot strike, and pelvis movement. By fine-tuning these factors, an athlete can reduce energy waste and improve their overall speed without exerting extra effort. Small adjustments, like optimizing cadence or improving stride mechanics, can lead to faster run times while conserving energy for the final push.
2. Preventing Injuries: Triathlons place a lot of stress on the body due to the repetitive nature of swimming, cycling, and running. Improper running mechanics can lead to injuries such as shin splints, knee pain, or stress fractures, which can seriously derail training and race day performance. Gait analysis helps identify areas of imbalance or abnormal stress on joints.
3. Optimizing Footwear: Gait analysis provides valuable data to determine which type of shoe best suits the athlete’s foot mechanics. The analysis can reveal whether an athlete needs a more cushioned shoe, stability support, or a minimalistic design based on their running style. Proper shoes can help enhance comfort, reduce fatigue, and prevent injuries during the run portion of the triathlon.
5. Personalized Training Programs: The insights gained from gait analysis provide valuable data that can be used to create personalized training programs. Coaches can tailor drills and exercises to improve an athlete’s specific weaknesses or imbalances identified through the analysis. By addressing these areas early in training, athletes can avoid the development of bad habits and improve their performance in the long run.
The Center for Physical Rehabilitation would love to share more details and help you get the most out of your training and recovery. Call (616) 344-1664 for more information or visit the CPR website to explore further.