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Free Gait Analysis in Banbridge
Free in store, no appointment
Two people with the same shoe size can move very differently, and a trainer that feels superb on one of them can feel wrong on the other. You run on the treadmill in our shop, we watch what your feet actually do, and we help you choose footwear that suits it.
Call 028 4066 2750
Last Satof the month, usually
10am to 3pmdrop in any time
20 minsroughly, per person
Freeno obligation to buy
No bookingwalk-in service
Sessions run at our shop at 25 to 31 Newry Street, Banbridge. The date does occasionally move, so give us a ring on 028 4066 2750 to check we are running before you travel. It takes a minute and saves a wasted trip.
If Saturdays do not suit you, come in any time during normal opening hours, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm, and we will still help you find the right fit. Gait analysis itself only runs on the monthly session day.
What happens on the day
The whole thing takes around 20 minutes, so it is easily done alongside the rest of your shopping.
- A quick chat. What you are using the shoes for, how far and how often, where you run or walk, what you are wearing at the moment and how you are getting on with it. If anything is bothering you, tell us.
- We look at your current shoes. The wear pattern on a well-used pair tells us a surprising amount before you take a single step.
- We watch you run. We have a treadmill in the shop, so you run on it for a short spell at a comfortable pace while we watch what your feet and ankles do as they land. If running is not for you, walking tells us plenty too.
- We talk through what we saw. In plain English, not jargon.
- We bring out some options. Then you try them on and walk about in them, because how a shoe feels on your foot always beats what it says on paper.
What to bring
- Your current trainers, especially a worn-in pair. The soles are evidence.
- The socks you normally wear for running or walking.
- Any insoles or orthotics you use, since they change how a shoe fits.
- Comfortable clothing if you are happy to run a little.
What gait analysis actually is
Your gait is simply the pattern of how you walk or run. Gait analysis means watching that pattern closely enough to spot things you cannot see yourself, particularly what your foot does at the moment it lands and as your weight rolls through it.
The part most people have heard of is pronation. When your foot lands, it rolls inwards slightly to absorb the shock. That is normal and it is meant to happen. What varies is how much.
Neutral
The foot rolls inwards a moderate amount and your weight moves through fairly evenly.
Overpronation
The foot rolls inwards more than average, and the ankle tends to roll in with it.
Underpronation
Sometimes called supination. The foot rolls inwards less than average and stays more on the outer edge.
None of these is a fault, and none of them needs fixing. They are descriptions of how you move. What they are useful for is narrowing down which shoes are likely to feel comfortable, because manufacturers build different amounts of support and cushioning into different models.
Why it is worth doing before you buy
Honestly, the biggest benefit is that it saves you guessing. The running shoe market is enormous and the differences between models are real but not obvious from a product photo. Knowing roughly where you sit takes a wall of a hundred trainers and turns it into a short list of five or six to actually try on.
It also catches the mismatches. A supportive, structured shoe on someone who does not need the structure often feels stiff and unforgiving. A soft, neutral shoe on someone who wants more support can feel unstable. Neither problem shows up in the first ten steps around a shop, but both show up by mile three.
We should be straightforward about one thing. The aim here is to find footwear that suits how you move and feels right over distance. Research on whether matching shoes to pronation prevents injury is mixed, and we are not going to claim otherwise. Comfort and fit are what we can genuinely help with, and they matter a great deal.
Who runs the sessions
Sessions are run by our own trained staff, and some months we are joined by a visiting specialist from one of the footwear brands we stock. They bring a lot of technical knowledge about how shoes are built and who they suit, which is well worth having in the room.
Either way, we fit across the full range we stock. The point of the session is to find the shoe that works for you, not to steer you toward any particular label.
What gait analysis is not
This is a footwear fitting service, not a medical one. We are a shoe shop, and a good one, but we are not clinicians.
- We do not diagnose anything.
- We do not treat injuries or prescribe orthotics.
- We will not tell you to change how you run.
If you have persistent pain, a recurring injury, numbness, or a foot problem linked to a condition such as diabetes or arthritis, please see your GP or a podiatrist. That is the right place for it, and new trainers are not a substitute. We are very happy to work alongside advice you have already been given, so if a clinician has told you what to look for in a shoe, bring that information with you.
Have a look before you come in
It helps to have an idea of what you like the look of, though do not settle on anything until you have tried it. Our performance trainers collection brings together the brands we most often reach for on a gait analysis day, including Brooks, Asics, On Running, Hoka and Saucony. You can also browse womens running footwear, mens running footwear, or everything in running. If you spend more time off road, have a look at trail running footwear.
If you would rather order online afterwards, we ship from Northern Ireland, so customers in the Republic of Ireland pay no customs charges. Delivery is free on orders over £79.99, and you have 30 days to return anything, with return postage paid by the customer.
Frequently asked questions
When does gait analysis run at Donaghys?
Usually the last Saturday of the month, between 10am and 3pm, at our shop at 25 to 31 Newry Street, Banbridge. The date can occasionally change, so ring us on 028 4066 2750 to check before you travel.
Do I need to book a gait analysis appointment?
No. It is a walk-in service, so you can come in any time between 10am and 3pm on the session day. We do suggest phoning ahead on 028 4066 2750 just to confirm the session is running that weekend.
How long does gait analysis take?
Around 20 minutes. There is no need to set aside half a day for it, and you can easily fit it in alongside the rest of your shopping.
Do I have to run on the treadmill?
It is the most useful way for us to see what your feet do, but it is not compulsory. If running does not suit you, walking tells us plenty. Just say when you come in.
How much does gait analysis cost at Donaghys?
Nothing. The session is free and there is no obligation to buy anything afterwards.
Do I need to be a runner to have gait analysis?
No. It is just as useful if you walk regularly, are on your feet all day at work, or simply want trainers that feel better than your last pair. How your foot behaves matters whether you are running or walking.
What should I bring to a gait analysis session?
Bring your current trainers, ideally a worn-in pair, because the wear pattern on the soles is genuinely informative. Also bring the socks you normally wear and any insoles or orthotics you use, since both change how a shoe fits.
Will gait analysis prevent running injuries?
We would not claim that. Research on whether matching footwear to pronation reduces injury is mixed. What gait analysis does reliably is help you find shoes that suit how you move and stay comfortable over distance. If you have pain or a recurring injury, see your GP or a podiatrist.
Do I have to buy shoes after the session?
No. There is no purchase requirement. You are welcome to take the information away and think about it.