Video-Based Analysis
Frame-by-frame review of your running form using slow-motion video to catch what the naked eye misses.
Auburn & Seattle, WA
Running
Gait
Analysis
A Certified Running Gait Analyst examines exactly how you move — then gives you a precise plan to run faster, stay injury-free, and get more out of every mile.
📍 Serving Auburn, Seattle & King County, WA
Performance Gains
Small adjustments to cadence, posture, or foot strike can yield significant improvements in speed and efficiency.
Injury Prevention
Identify the mechanical patterns behind recurring pain before they sideline you from the sport you love.
The Science
What Is Running Gait Analysis?
Running gait analysis is a structured, clinical assessment of how your body moves when you run. At Strive Running & Recovery in Auburn, WA, we use video-based motion capture combined with hands-on movement and strength screening to build a complete picture of your running mechanics.
Your gait is divided into distinct phases — and problems in any one phase can cascade into pain, inefficiency, and injury. Our Certified Running Gait Analyst pinpoints exactly where your form breaks down and why, then designs a targeted plan to fix it.
Phase 01
Initial Contact & Loading
How your foot meets the ground — heel strike vs. midfoot vs. forefoot — and how your body absorbs impact forces that can reach 2–3x your body weight.
Phase 02
Midstance & Stability
Single-leg support phase revealing hip drop, knee tracking, and ankle pronation patterns that drive IT band issues, runner's knee, and shin splints.
Phase 03
Propulsion & Toe-Off
How efficiently you push off the ground — assessing calf and glute engagement, hip extension, and energy return through the foot and ankle.
Phase 04
Swing & Recovery
Leg recovery arc, knee drive, arm swing, and head/torso posture — how well your body resets for the next stride and minimizes unnecessary energy cost.
What We Evaluate
The Metrics That Matter
Our Auburn, WA running analysis goes far beyond watching you run. We evaluate the full kinetic chain — from foot strike to shoulder position — and use clinical movement screening to understand the strength and mobility factors driving your gait.
Foot Strike Pattern
Heel, midfoot, or forefoot contact — and whether your strike pattern is appropriate for your pace, anatomy, and shoe type.
Cadence & Stride Rate
Steps per minute and whether an adjustment could reduce impact forces, improve efficiency, or help resolve recurring injuries.
Hip Drop & Pelvic Tilt
Contralateral hip drop during single-leg stance is one of the most common drivers of IT band syndrome, patellofemoral pain, and lower back issues in runners.
Knee Tracking & Valgus
Inward knee collapse (valgus) under load reveals glute and hip weakness that leads to runner's knee and increases ACL stress.
Trunk & Upper Body Posture
Forward lean angle, arm swing symmetry, shoulder tension, and head position — all of which affect breathing, energy cost, and lower-body mechanics.
Strength & Mobility Screen
Off-treadmill testing of hip strength, ankle mobility, single-leg stability, and flexibility to identify the root cause behind what we see on video.
Who It's For
Every Runner Deserves Better Mechanics
Whether you're lacing up for the first time or toeing the line at your 50th race, gait analysis gives you the specific information your body needs — not generic advice.
Recreational Runners
You run 3–5 days a week, love the sport, and want to stay that way. Gait analysis helps you build a sustainable, pain-free running habit for years to come — without constant nagging injuries interrupting your routine.
Competitive Athletes
Training for a 5K, half marathon, marathon, or trail race near Seattle? Even small mechanical inefficiencies compound over miles and months. Optimizing your gait now means faster race times and a healthier training block.
Injured or Post-Rehab Runners
Already dealing with shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or knee pain? Or recently cleared to run again after surgery? Our physical therapy background means we don't just analyze — we treat the underlying cause and rebuild your mechanics safely.
New & Returning Runners
Starting strong matters. New runners who develop good mechanics early avoid the injury cycle that sidelines so many beginners. If you're returning after a long break, we help you rebuild correctly from the ground up.
The Assessment
Your Gait Analysis, Step by Step
Here's exactly what happens during your running analysis at our Auburn, WA clinic — no guesswork, no generic recommendations.
01
Intake & Goal Setting
We start by understanding your running history, injury history, training goals, and current pain points. Context matters — your plan is built around your life.
02
Movement & Strength Screen
Off-treadmill clinical testing of hip strength, ankle mobility, single-leg balance, and flexibility to reveal the physical limiters behind your gait.
03
Video Running Analysis
You run. We film from multiple angles at multiple speeds. Slow-motion playback lets us capture every phase of your stride with precision no in-person observation can match.
04
Personalized Plan & Exercises
You leave with a specific, prioritized action plan: targeted exercises, cuing strategies, and follow-up milestones — not a binder of generic handouts.
Injury Prevention
Running Injuries We Address
Most running injuries aren't bad luck — they're the predictable result of mechanical patterns under load over time. Gait analysis identifies those patterns before (or after) they turn into injuries.
✓
IT Band Syndrome (Iliotibial Band)✓
Patellofemoral Pain (Runner's Knee)✓
Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain✓
Shin Splints & Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome✓
Achilles Tendinopathy✓
Hip Flexor & Glute Strains✓
Stress Fractures & Overuse Injuries✓
Lower Back Pain During RunningMost runners don't need to run less. They need to run better.
Chronic pain and repeated injuries are signals — not sentences. With the right gait corrections, strength work, and mechanical awareness, most runners can train consistently and enjoyably for decades.
Serving the Region
Running Analysis Near Seattle, WA
Strive Running & Recovery is conveniently located in Auburn, WA — making us the closest certified running gait analysis clinic for runners across the South King County and greater Seattle area. Whether you're in Auburn, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Bellevue, or anywhere in the Seattle metro, we're your local resource for expert running assessment and physical therapy.
Seattle-area runners deal with unique challenges: year-round rain running, hilly terrain, and the Pacific Northwest trail and road racing scene. We understand the local running landscape and tailor your gait corrections to the surfaces and conditions you actually run on.
Auburn WA
Seattle WA
Kent WA
Renton WA
Federal Way WA
Bellevue WA
Tacoma WA
Covington WA
Maple Valley WA
Black Diamond WA
King County WA
Pierce County WA
Ready to Run Smarter?
Book your running gait analysis at our Auburn, WA clinic. Same-week appointments often available.
253-777-4563 Book Online Now📍 Auburn, WA · Veteran-Owned Clinic
JM
Jonathon May
PT, DPT, PCES, CRGA
Doctor of PT
Cert. Gait Analyst
PCES
9+ Years Experience
Veteran-Owned
Your Analyst
A Certified Expert, Not Just a Coach
Dr. Jonathon May is Auburn's only Certified Running Gait Analyst (CRGA) with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. That combination — clinical depth plus gait specialty — means your analysis is backed by real diagnostic expertise, not just observation.
01
Clinical Physical Therapy Foundation
DPT from Baylor University and a BS in Kinesiology from Pacific Lutheran University means Dr. May understands biomechanics at the clinical level — not just the coaching level. He can identify and treat the underlying injury driving your gait, not just describe it.
02
Certified Running Gait Analyst (CRGA)
The CRGA credential is earned through rigorous specialized training in running mechanics and video-based gait analysis — giving you confidence your assessment follows an evidence-based protocol, not a personal opinion.
03
A Runner's Perspective
Dr. May's entry into running specialization was driven by watching his own children compete — giving him the runner's mindset and parent's urgency to keep athletes healthy, happy, and on the course.
Questions
Gait Analysis FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking your running analysis in Auburn, WA.
A running gait analysis is a clinical evaluation of how you run — using slow-motion video, movement screens, and strength testing to identify inefficiencies, compensations, and mechanical patterns that could be limiting your performance or causing pain. At Strive in Auburn, WA, ours is performed by a Certified Running Gait Analyst who is also a licensed physical therapist.
A retail shoe fitting looks at a few steps on a pressure plate to recommend a shoe type. Our clinical gait analysis evaluates all phases of your running stride, tests the mobility and strength factors driving your mechanics, and produces a personalized exercise and correction plan. It's the difference between a recommendation and a diagnosis.
Any runner who wants to improve performance, prevent injuries, recover from a running-related injury, or simply understand how their body moves. We work with beginners, competitive athletes, post-surgical runners, and everyone in between — all ages, all paces, all experience levels across the Auburn and Seattle, WA area.
Wear your typical running clothes and bring your current running shoes. If you have multiple pairs you rotate through, bring them all — shoe choice can be a meaningful part of the gait picture. Come ready to run on our treadmill for at least 10–15 minutes.
A comprehensive running gait analysis at our Auburn clinic typically takes 60–90 minutes. This includes your intake conversation, movement and strength testing, video running analysis, and detailed review of your personalized findings and plan.
We are a pay-at-time-of-service clinic and do not bill insurance directly. Running gait analysis and performance services are generally not covered by insurance. However, if physical therapy is also provided during your visit, we can supply a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Contact your insurer to understand your benefits before your visit.
Absolutely. You'll leave with a specific, prioritized set of exercises, cuing strategies, and clear next steps — tailored to what your gait analysis revealed. We don't just identify problems; we give you an actionable roadmap to fix them and track progress over time.
Yes — and it's often the best time to come in. Because Dr. May is a licensed physical therapist as well as a Certified Running Gait Analyst, he can both assess your injury and evaluate how your mechanics may be contributing to it. We can structure the session to work within your current limitations and build a return-to-run plan alongside your gait corrections.
Auburn & Seattle, WA
Stop Guessing.
Start Running Right.
Book your running gait analysis at Strive Running & Recovery in Auburn, WA — and leave with a clear, personalized plan to run faster, stay healthier, and enjoy every mile.
Book My Running Analysisor call us directly
253-777-4563
📍 Auburn, WA · Veteran-Owned · All Skill Levels Welcome