Saucony Develops Approach To Gait Analysis At Retail With The Launch Of The Saucony Stride Lab
This spring, Saucony unveils the all-new Saucony Stride Lab; an innovative stride analysis method that will get to know the individual runner; how running fits into their lives and also provide an in-depth analysis of their unique stride characteristics. Saucony have teamed up with software experts Contemplas to create the Saucony Stride Lab and will be taking this to Running Specialty retailers in 2016, adding additional value on the shop floor.
The roots of the UK Saucony Stride Lab come from the Saucony Lab in Boston, Lexington, built and run under the direction and expertise of Spencer White, VP Saucony Human Performance & Innovation Lab
The team in the Boston Lab continually assess every dynamic aspect of the runner in motion. This research has shown that the best product solutions come from looking at the runner’s entire stride, not just the moment of foot strike, so every shoe that comes out of the Saucony lab is designed to create a seamless connection between the runner and their footwear. Saucony is bringing this philosophy from the Boston Lab and into the retail environment in the UK.
Richard Outterside, Saucony UK Country Manager says “We want to help our retailers offer additional value to runners. A conversation with the runner about their lifestyle and working conditions is very important. It should be made clear that runners may need different shoes on different days for different runs in order to give the body the support it needs.”
The Saucony Stride Lab gait analysis consists of three high-speed cameras positioned to assess the runners body position and running form. The cameras are synchronized by the software to capture a runner’s stride from multiple views; the back, the front and the side. The front camera angle assists assessment of knee rotation and the camera at the side shows the extension of the leg and knee flexion upon impact.
Richard Outterside says ‘Everybody has an individual running style, so it’s important to look up from the foot and analyse the whole body. Our experts will be travelling with the lab kit to train retail staff to analyse the runner from these three perspectives for a high level of feedback. Offering additional individual data and information to the runner will dramatically enhance the level of service and will assist store staff with the shoe selection process.”
Spencer White, Vice President of Human Performance and Innovation Lab at Saucony HQ in Boston said ‘The outcome of a session on the lab is not a prescription for the perfect shoe, but a 360° understanding of the runners requirements and how specialty running stores add value that cannot be found elsewhere. Usually, selecting correct footwear is part of the solution, but a Stride Analysis will also lead to advice regarding the runners flexibility, strength and conditioning regimen’.
If you want to know more about Stride Lab can add value for your runners, contact your local Saucony Rep or head to www.stridelab.co.uk.
