Running involves repeated loading through the trunk, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles and feet. A posterior-view assessment helps observe how the runner controls movement from side to side while running.
The posterior view is especially useful for observing frontal-plane features such as trunk shift, pelvic drop, hip adduction, knee position, foot progression, rearfoot movement and side-to-side symmetry.
It may be performed using:
treadmill running
overground running
smartphone video
high-speed video
motion analysis software
structured visual checklist
The aim is not to label a runner’s technique as good or bad. The aim is to document the runner’s current strategy and decide whether any visible features may be relevant to symptoms, confidence, load management or performance goals.
Assessment name: Running Gait Checklist: Posterior View
Category: Observation-based running assessment
View: Rear/posterior view
Plane emphasised: Frontal plane
Main purpose: Observe side-to-side running mechanics from behind
Best used for: Baseline running assessment, education and reassessment
Key limitation: Posterior-view findings do not diagnose injury or prove pain cause on their own
The posterior running gait checklist is a structured way to observe running from behind.
It may include observation of:
trunk position
trunk side shift
pelvic drop
pelvic rotation impression
hip adduction
knee position
dynamic knee valgus appearance
foot progression angle
rearfoot eversion or inversion impression
step width
crossover gait
vertical motion
arm swing symmetry
side-to-side differences
The checklist helps make observation more consistent and reduces the chance of missing important features.
A posterior running gait checklist is used because many running-related symptoms occur during repeated loading, not during static assessment.
A runner may report:
pain during running
symptoms after a certain distance
reduced running confidence
hip or pelvis symptoms
knee symptoms
shin or lower-leg symptoms
foot or ankle symptoms
recurrent running flare-ups
difficulty increasing speed or distance
The checklist may help professionals:
document baseline running mechanics
observe side-to-side differences
review pelvic and knee control
assess step width and crossover pattern
monitor fatigue-related changes
compare running before and after cueing
guide further strength, mobility or load assessment
support running education
The findings should be interpreted alongside symptoms, training history, footwear, surface, strength, mobility, tissue capacity and professional judgement.
The posterior view assesses visible running mechanics from behind.
It may provide insight into:
frontal-plane trunk control
pelvic control
hip adduction strategy
knee position during stance
foot and ankle behaviour
step width
crossover pattern
side-to-side symmetry
fatigue-related changes
symptom response during running
It does not directly measure:
diagnosis
tissue damage
injury risk with certainty
exact joint loading
ground reaction forces
three-dimensional joint motion
strength
mobility
tissue capacity
readiness to return to running
The posterior running gait checklist may be useful for:
running coaches
exercise professionals
rehabilitation practitioners
strength and conditioning coaches
performance coaches
allied health support teams
movement assessment professionals
students learning running assessment
It may be relevant for runners with:
running-related pain
recurrent running flare-ups
return-to-running goals
hip or pelvis symptoms
patellofemoral pain symptoms
ITB-region symptoms
lower-leg symptoms
foot or ankle symptoms
training load changes
performance goals
interest in running technique feedback
Use the posterior running gait checklist when you want to observe side-to-side running mechanics from behind.
It may be useful at:
initial running assessment
return-to-running planning
hip, knee, lower-leg or foot symptom review
step-width or crossover gait review
symptom provocation assessment
reassessment after cueing
progress review
fatigue-based running review
performance technique review
It is most useful when combined with lateral-view observation, physical testing and training-load review.
Use caution when:
running is currently unsafe or too painful
symptoms are severe or worsening
the client has acute injury or red flags
the test would exceed current running tolerance
the runner is unfamiliar with treadmill running
the professional is interpreting one video without broader context
findings are being used to diagnose injury or prescribe major technique changes
The assessment should not be used to:
diagnose a running injury
prove the cause of pain
predict injury on its own
label running form as bad
force one ideal running style
replace physical assessment
replace training-load assessment
clear someone for running or sport on its own
You may need:
treadmill or safe overground running space
smartphone or camera
tripod or stable camera position
adequate lighting
marked filming distance
consistent footwear
running speed record
symptom rating scale
training history notes
checklist or observation template
Optional tools may include:
slow-motion video
frame-by-frame video analysis
cadence measurement
metronome
video angle tool
wearable running metrics
Explain the purpose of the running video.
Example wording:
“We are going to film your running from behind to observe your current running strategy. This does not diagnose an injury, but it helps us understand how you move and whether anything may be useful to explore further.”
Record:
treadmill or overground
speed
incline
footwear
surface
warm-up duration
symptoms before running
symptoms during running
fatigue level
filming distance
filming duration
For posterior view:
place the camera directly behind the runner
keep the camera level
frame the whole body if possible
avoid angled filming
use consistent distance
record several running cycles
use slow motion if available
repeat the same setup at reassessment
For treadmill running, position the camera directly behind the belt. For overground running, capture enough strides to observe a representative pattern.
Ask the runner to:
run naturally
avoid intentionally changing form unless asked
report symptoms
maintain the agreed speed
use normal footwear unless comparing footwear
stop if symptoms become unsafe or excessive
Common checklist items include:
head and trunk alignment
trunk side shift
pelvic drop
hip adduction
knee position during stance
dynamic knee valgus appearance
rearfoot eversion or inversion impression
foot progression angle
step width
crossover gait
arm swing symmetry
side-to-side differences
symptom timing
Retest using the same:
speed
surface
footwear
camera position
warm-up
symptom rating
fatigue context
filming distance
Changes in running form should be interpreted cautiously if testing conditions differ.
Running assessment should stay within the client’s current tolerance.
Stop or modify the test if symptoms increase sharply, gait becomes unsafe, dizziness occurs, neurological symptoms appear or the client asks to stop.
A posterior running gait checklist is usually recorded descriptively rather than with a universal score.
A practical rating system may classify each item as:
expected / not notable
mild observation
clear observation
unable to assess
symptom-linked observation
If using a formal checklist, follow the tool’s scoring rules.
A posterior-view finding may suggest:
a useful baseline observation
a possible movement strategy to explore
a reason to assess strength, mobility or load tolerance
a cueing opportunity
a fatigue-related movement change
a factor to monitor with symptoms or training load
A finding should not be assumed to cause pain.
An unremarkable posterior view may suggest no obvious rear-view feature in that condition.
It does not exclude symptoms, load intolerance, strength deficits, mobility limitations or lateral-view findings.
A posterior running gait checklist does not prove:
diagnosis
tissue damage
pain cause
injury risk
running readiness
exact joint load
force production
need for technique change
whether one cue caused improvement
Example wording:
“Your posterior running video gives us a rear-view snapshot of your running strategy today. We will interpret it alongside your symptoms, training load, strength, mobility and running goals.”
For recreational runners, the checklist may help identify simple areas to monitor, such as step width, crossover pattern, pelvic control or side-to-side difference.
For performance runners, findings should be interpreted alongside speed, fatigue, training phase, race goals and performance demands.
For return-to-running clients, the checklist may help monitor whether mechanics change with symptoms, speed or fatigue.
For youth runners, interpretation should consider growth, coordination, training age and coaching language.
For older runners, running mechanics may reflect strength, mobility, confidence, balance, footwear and training history.
For symptomatic runners, the most useful observations are those that relate to symptom timing, load tolerance, fatigue and modifiable training variables.
A posterior running gait checklist does not usually have universal MCID or MDC values.
Meaningful change should be judged by:
repeated video comparison
symptom change
running tolerance
distance or speed capacity
confidence
training consistency
physical assessment findings
runner goals
Avoid over-interpreting small visual differences, especially if speed, fatigue, footwear or filming angle changed.
There is no single ideal posterior running pattern for every runner.
Running mechanics vary by:
speed
height
limb length
footwear
surface
fatigue
training age
sport background
injury history
strength
mobility
running goals
Practical comparison guidance:
compare the runner with their own baseline
standardise speed and filming setup
interpret findings with symptoms and training load
avoid one-size-fits-all technique rules
use comparison values only when they match the runner and context
Reliability depends on the checklist, filming setup, assessor training and whether observations are clearly defined.
Video-based running analysis can improve consistency compared with memory-based observation, especially when speed, camera view and checklist items are standardised.
Posterior video is useful for frontal-plane observations, but it cannot fully capture three-dimensional movement or exact joint loading.
Reliability improves when:
camera setup is standardised
speed and footwear are recorded
checklist items are clearly defined
several strides are observed
slow-motion video is used
the same assessor or criteria are used at retest
findings are linked with symptoms and function
Validity is weaker when a single posterior video is used to explain pain or predict injury without broader assessment.
Common errors include:
diagnosing injury from running form
assuming one ideal running style
changing technique without symptoms or goals
ignoring training load
ignoring fatigue
using angled video
comparing videos at different speeds
over-focusing on one observation
ignoring strength and mobility findings
giving fear-based feedback
Limitations include:
posterior view mainly captures frontal-plane features
sagittal-plane mechanics are limited
treadmill and overground running may differ
fatigue can change mechanics
footwear can change mechanics
observations can be subjective
exact joint loading is not directly measured
findings do not prove pain cause
A posterior running gait checklist may help professionals:
document baseline running mechanics
identify symptom-linked running features
support education
monitor pelvic, hip, knee and foot/ankle observations
compare pre- and post-cueing running video
guide strength or mobility testing
support return-to-running progressions
improve communication with runners
For symptomatic runners, the checklist is most useful when combined with training history, pain behaviour, load tolerance and physical assessment.
For performance runners, it can support technique discussion without forcing one universal running model.
It assesses rear-view running mechanics, including trunk shift, pelvic drop, hip adduction, knee position, foot progression, step width and side-to-side differences.
No. It can support assessment reasoning but does not diagnose injury or prove pain cause.
Posterior video is useful for frontal-plane features, but lateral video may be needed for sagittal-plane features such as step length and foot strike.
No. Running mechanics vary between individuals and should be interpreted in context.
Record speed, surface, footwear, camera setup, warm-up, symptoms, fatigue and key observations.
Yes, but treadmill running may differ from overground running, so this should be recorded.
No. Any technique change should relate to symptoms, goals, load tolerance and broader assessment findings.
Reassess when symptoms, training load, technique cues or return-to-running goals make comparison useful.
The posterior running gait checklist reviews rear-view running mechanics.
It is useful for observing frontal-plane features such as pelvic drop, hip adduction, knee position and step width.
It does not diagnose injury or prove pain cause.
There is no single ideal running form for every runner.
Video setup, speed, footwear and fatigue must be standardised for comparison.
Findings are strongest when combined with symptoms, training load, strength, mobility and runner goals.
Adler, R. (2023). Clinical approach to running gait analysis. UNC Sports Medicine Institute.
Barrett, T., Ho, K.-Y., Smith, R. L., King, E., Hoch, M. C., & Reinking, M. F. (2023). Implementation of 2D running gait analysis in orthopedic physical therapy clinics. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 18(2), 372–384. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.74726
Heiderscheit, B. C. (2011). Gait retraining for runners: In search of the ideal. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 41(12), 909–910. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2011.0110
Reinking, M. F., Dugan, L., Ripple, N., Schleper, K., Scholz, H., Spadino, J., Stahl, C., & McPoil, T. G. (2018). Reliability of two-dimensional video-based running gait analysis. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 13(3), 453–461.
Souza, R. B. (2016). An evidence-based videotaped running biomechanics analysis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 27(1), 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmr.2015.08.006
