Running Gait Analysis in Winston-Salem, NC

Run Smarter. Break the Injury Cycle.

Runners come to us dealing with recurring injuries, declining performance, or pain that shows up every time mileage picks up. At Elite Movement, we analyze your running mechanics using video and force plate technology — then build a plan that addresses what's actually creating the problem.

Why Runners Stay Stuck in the Same Cycle

You Treat the Symptom, Return to Running, and Flare Up Again

Rest and ice get you out of pain — but without understanding how you run, the same load patterns that caused the injury are still there waiting. The next mileage buildup brings the same problem right back.

You've Been Told to Strengthen, but Nothing Specific to Your Gait

Generic hip and glute exercises help, but if they're not addressing the actual mechanics driving your injury — your cadence, your loading patterns, your foot strike — progress stalls and the pain keeps coming back.

You Don't Know If Your Form Is Holding Back Your Performance

Small inefficiencies in running mechanics — overstriding, crossover gait, vertical oscillation — add up over miles. Without video analysis and force plate data, you're guessing about what's limiting you.

Common Conditions We Treat

Who We Work With for Gait Analysis

Runners dealing with recurring injury or performance plateaus they can't break through.

Runners With Recurring Lower Extremity Injuries — dealing with knee, hip, IT band, Achilles, or shin pain that keeps coming back when mileage builds back up.

Athletes Stuck in Repetitive Flare Cycles — who've tried rest and standard PT but keep returning to the same injury pattern every training block.

Runners Training for a Race — navigating pain or inefficiency mid-cycle and needing answers that don't require stopping training entirely.

Performance-Focused Runners — looking to improve economy, reduce ground contact time, or optimize mechanics to run faster and more efficiently.

Runners Returning From Injury — cleared to run but wanting objective confirmation that their mechanics are ready before pushing mileage back up.

Recreational and High School Runners — building volume for the first time and wanting to establish strong mechanics before load accumulates into injury.

Runners Who've Been Told Their Form Is Fine — but still experiencing pain or inconsistent results despite consistent training and standard rehab.

Active Adults With Running Goals — not competitive racers, but runners who want to stay healthy and moving well for the long haul without breaking down every season.

How It Works

Three Steps Back to Full Performance

Step 1 — Consult

Book a free phone consult. Share your goals, tell us what's been getting in the way, and find out if we're the right fit.

Step 2 — Assess and Build Your Plan

Your first appointment includes a thorough performance-based evaluation. Your program is built around your findings — no generic templates.

Step 3 — Reach your goals

Our mission is to help you achieve your goals. Come experience the difference.

What Our Runners Say

Hear from runners who finally got answers — and stopped repeating the same injury cycle.

First time trying physical therapy, and I’m very happy I went to Elite Movement! David, has been incredibly helpful in improving my mobility and addressing my chronic back pain. After just a few sessions, I’ve already noticed a significant improvement, and I’m hopeful that I can continue to apply the techniques I’ve learned. To further my recovery, I’ve also started working with Christina, who’s incorporating exercises that support my PT efforts. I highly recommend Elite Movement’s trainers and PTs, they’re an awesome group!
EJ Cardenas
I'm in my late 50s and had a bad knee for 18 months which severely impacted my mobility followed by surgery, so I was very deconditioned when I started working with Stefan. A year later I'm in better shape than before the knee issue and the knee never hurt during or after a workout, thanks to his expertise. His motivational approach is very balanced and even keeled which I appreciate. Working with Stefan has been an all around great experience.
Elke Bachmann
I tore my Achilles several years ago and had surgery to repair it. After the initial recovery I was still struggling with regaining strength across my entire lower body. I was also suffering from back, neck, and shoulder pain as a result of that weakness. I saw 3 different physical therapists over a 4 year period with no real results. After working with DC Performance for a couple months, I felt stronger and the pain across my body basically disappeared. DC Performance listens to what the issues are and addresses them at the source, as opposed to printing out a template exercise program that provides topical solutions. I’ve been doing DC Performace exercises for almost three years and have never felt stronger and more comfortable.
Noah Craft
Where We Serve

Winston-Salem and Beyond

Elite Movement is located in the Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem, NC, and works with athletes and active adults from across the area — including Ardmore, Westview, and surrounding western communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions runners ask before booking a gait analysis at Elite Movement — with straight answers.

What does a running gait analysis at Elite Movement actually include?

Your gait analysis includes video capture of your running mechanics combined with force plate data to assess loading patterns and asymmetries. Your DPT reviews all findings with you in the same session, connects them to your injury history or performance goals, and builds your treatment or training plan directly from what the analysis shows.

Do I need to be injured to benefit from a gait analysis?

No. Gait analysis is equally useful for performance-focused runners who want to improve economy and efficiency as it is for runners dealing with recurring injury. If you're training hard and want to run better — not just stay out of pain — a mechanics assessment can show you exactly where your form is costing you time or energy.

How is this different from what my coach or a running store does?

A running store assessment looks at foot strike for shoe fitting. A coach watches your form for technique cues. What we do is clinical — a DPT evaluates your mechanics in the context of your injury history, strength profile, and movement screen findings, using force plate data to assess loading. The findings drive a treatment or training plan, not just a shoe recommendation.

Can gait analysis help with plantar fasciitis, IT band issues, or runner's knee?

These are among the most common reasons runners come to us for gait analysis. Overstriding, crossover gait, contralateral pelvic drop, and hip weakness are all mechanical patterns that show up repeatedly in runners dealing with these issues. Finding and addressing those patterns — not just treating the painful area — is what breaks the recurring flare cycle for most runners.

Do I need a referral to book a running gait analysis?

No referral needed. North Carolina allows direct access to physical therapy, so you can book a free phone consult and get started without waiting on a physician order. If your situation calls for imaging or a medical referral, we'll tell you directly after the assessment — but that's rarely the first step for mechanics-related issues.

Still have questions?

Reach out — we'll help you figure out if a gait analysis is the right next step for your running.

Ready to Find Out What Your Gait Is Actually Doing?

Book a free phone consult and find out what your mechanics are actually doing — so we can build a plan that addresses the real problem and gets you back to running without watching for the next flare.