Running Gait Analysis Setup for a PT Room

A running gait analysis in a PT room needs four things: a treadmill, two fixed camera angles, even light and enough floor to stand beside the runner and cue. The setup matters more than the hardware, because clips you can compare from visit to visit are worth more than a single dramatic video. If you want to run these assessments out of a private PT room, this is the layout to build and test.

Choose the treadmill for the question

Two kinds of treadmills do different jobs.

• A motorized treadmill holds a set speed, which makes clips comparable. Many clinicians prefer it for before-and-after comparisons.
• A curved treadmill is self-powered, and the runner sets the pace. It tends to show how someone naturally runs, but the speed drifts from one clip to the next. See curved versus motorized treadmills for the tradeoffs.

FlexWerk’s cardio spaces at Carmel City Center include curved treadmills, booked by the hour; if you need a fixed-speed motorized belt for your protocol, confirm with the host or plan to work elsewhere. For what each cardio space has, see the cardio room page.

Camera placement that repeats

Use a phone or camera on a stand, never in your hand. Fix three numbers and write them down: height from the floor, distance from the runner and angle.

1. Rear view. Place the lens at roughly the runner’s hip to waist height, centered behind the treadmill, to see how the pelvis, knees and feet line up.
2. Side view. Place the lens at hip height, perpendicular to the belt, to see foot strike, trunk position and stride.
3. Front view, optional. Useful for arm swing and head position, but it needs a clear lane, so leave it out if the layout is tight.

Mark the stand positions on the floor with tape so you can put them back in the same place next time. The running form filming answer goes through what a runner can film on their own; your version adds a clinician’s eye and a repeatable layout.

Light, screen and space

FlexSpaces have controllable lighting, a TV or monitor and WiFi, and are deliberately filming-friendly. Use them like this: raise the lighting evenly so there is no strong shadow across the legs, and replay the clip on the monitor so the runner sees what you see. Keep space beside the treadmill for you to stand and cue, with a clear margin behind it in case the runner steps off. Take the time to test the exact room and the camera distance on a free hour before you book a client.

A simple order for the hour

1. Intake. A few minutes on history, goals, and any pain. Referral to a physician comes first if anything sounds like a problem for medical follow-up.
2. Warm-up. Let the runner settle at a comfortable pace.
3. Record. Rear, then side, with the same duration each time.
4. Replay. Watch together on the monitor, slow down and pause.
5. Cue. Try one or two simple cues, record again and compare.
6. Plan. Send a short written summary and a short drill list.

Keep the plan to what a runner can use next week, not a complete rebuild.

The business side

The assessment is a short, bookable service. Costs are the room, from $18 to $22 an hour with cardio rooms from $12, your insurance and your time, and there is no lease or membership. Each PT sets their own fees and terms. First hour free for fitness professionals via get started. FlexWerk provides the space and no clinical services.

Prepare your first clip

Book your free hour, record yourself on the treadmill from both angles with a friend running, and replay it on the monitor. If you can compare the two clips side by side and read them, the room is ready for a client.