Running Form Analysis
Review posture, cadence, ground contact, hip drop, joint motion and discipline-specific running mechanics from a side clip and a rear clip.
How far has this tool been checked?
Foot-contact and toe-off times, step counts and cadence were checked against markers and force-plate events in two public treadmill datasets (Fukuchi et al. 2017 running and 2018 walking, CC BY 4.0), using the lab’s marker positions as stand-in body points with realistic noise added. The body-tracking model’s own error is NOT included, and the other measures of this tool (angles, trunk lean, symmetry) were checked on computer-drawn athletes only.
Where the camera goes
Seen from above. Angles are measured round from the front of the athlete; 90° is square-on from the side. Reference line: direction of running.
Side view. Cadence, stride, contact time, foot strike, vertical oscillation, knee flexion, hip extension, trunk lean and arm carriage.
How high, and how it should sit
Framing
Full body in frame for the whole clip, the runner the most prominent person.
The 70–90% band is our own guidance. No published source gives a camera distance in metres, so use it as a starting point and adjust until the whole movement fits.
Ready to record?
Tick each item as you set it up. This is a reminder, not a lock.
0 of 12 ready
All the camera settings
Every setting shows where it came from.
- Camera height
- About hip height.
- From published guidance
- Distance
- No published distance exists. Stand back until the whole athlete fits with a small margin, so the athlete fills roughly 70-90% of the frame height. Use the 1x lens and move your feet, not the zoom.
- Our guidance
- Frame rate
- 60+ fps. 60 fps or higher. 1080p is recommended; 720p also works.
- From published guidance
- Resolution
- 1080p recommended, 720p also works
- From published guidance
- Orientation
- Landscape or portrait both work.
- From published guidance
- Lens and zoom
- Use 1x to 3x zoom so the whole body stays in frame. Avoid the 0.5x fisheye lens.
- From published guidance
- Lighting
- Bright light.
- From published guidance
- Stability
- Tripod or fixed support, level with the horizon.
- From published guidance
- Calibration
- No calibration is needed for angles. Distances and speeds need a scale (see Calibration).
- From published guidance
Before you start
- Run on a treadmill at a comfortable, controlled jog for 3 minutes to settle into your natural stride.
- Note the exact treadmill speed.
- Make sure you are the most prominent person in frame with a clear view of your movement.
Cues for the athlete
Plain coaching cues, one thing at a time.
General
- Run naturally; do not change your stride for the camera.
Why camera position matters
Research behind these rules.
2D angles are only trustworthy when the limb moves in the plane the camera sees. Camera-side joints are measured more accurately than far-side joints, and timing is only as fine as one frame.