Cadence
Cadence is defined as the number of (left and right) steps per minute.
Cadence is calculated by counting the number of steps and dividing this by the time in which those steps were taken.
SPM- steps per minute
Slight increases in cadence have been shown to help reduce loading and improve running efficiency in some research studies.
Faster and more experienced runners often have a higher cadence. Average ranges for distance runners are between 140 and 180 spm, with many recreational runners falling within 140 to 160 spm. Most elite runners are above 180 spm when running at competition pace.
Small increases from the natural self selected cadence of any individual can often help reduce loading and improve running efficiency. Large changes are likely to have the opposite effect, increasing injury risk and reducing running efficiency.
Contact time
Contact time refers to the time your foot remains in contact with the ground during each step, the time from the moment your foot touches the ground until toe-off.
ms- millisecond
Some research studies have established that often shorter contact times at the same speed are associated with higher efficiency.
Shorter contact times at the same running speed are often correlated with a higher running efficiency, provided the gait pattern has not been substantially changed from natural self-selected. Faster runners typically have shorter contact times.
Flight time
Flight time refers to the time neither foot is in contact with the ground between consecutive steps of the left to the right foot or vice versa.
From the toe-off of one foot to the moment the other foot touches the ground.
SPM- steps per minute
Some research has indicated, and many coaches and runners associate the ratio of flight time and contact time to running efficiency, with relatively longer flight times and shorter contact times associated with higher efficiency.
Flight time is typically longer at higher running speeds. Flight time is often compared to contact time to provide an indication of running efficiency or leg stiffness/elasticity, with shorter contact times and relatively longer flight times often associated with higher efficiency.
Swing and stride time
Swing time refers to the time one foot remains in the air in between consecutive steps of the same foot from the toe-off of one foot to the moment the same foot touches the ground. Faster runners typically have shorter swing times.
ms- millisecond
Stride time refers to the time of one full step cycle of a foot from the moment the foot contacts the ground to the moment the same foot touches the ground for the second cycle. This includes the contact and swing time for one foot. Faster runners typically have longer stride times.
ms- millisecond
Footstrike
Footstrike calculated from the pressure measured with the various sensors in the insole.
Footstrike X refers to the location of the center of pressure (COP) at initial ground contact relative to the foot width on a scale of 0% to 100%, in which 0% is at the medial or inside edge and 100% at lateral or outside edge of the foot. All values in between are possible.
Footstrike Y refers to the location of the center of pressure (COP) at initial ground contact relative to the foot length on a scale of 0% to 100%, in which 0% is at the back of the heel and 100% at the tip of to toe. All values in between are possible.
Stability
Stability indicates how consistently the foot is placed on the ground. Varying the way your foot contact the ground, decreasing stability, can suggest a lower risk of injury.
Stability X refers to the variation of your landing between steps relative to the width of your foot.
Stability Y refers to the variation of your landing between steps relative to the length of your foot.
Varying the way your foot contact the ground, decreasing stability, can suggest a lower risk of injury.
Research has suggested that more variation (lower stability) between steps is associated with a lower risk of injury. Too little variation (too high stability) over longer periods of time is associated with higher risk of injury. Shoe stability can influence variability, and for shot term can bring benefits to certain biomechanical conditions, but reducing stability over time should help improve strength and adaptation to new loadings and reduce injury risk.
Balance
Balance indicates how much more or less you use one foot over the other. A balance equal to 0% means you use both feet equally.
When your balance is negative you use your left foot more and when it is positive you use your right foot more.
Some research studies have suggested that changes in balance over time can indicate developing weakness or injury risk.
Most runners and coaches strive more a more balanced running style, but small imbalances are unlikely to significantly increase injury risk. Changes in balance over time may indicate an increasing risk of injury.
Step and stride length
The step length is the distance covered between two consecutive placements of the left to the right foot or vice versa.
m- meter
The stride length is the distance covered between two consecutive placements of the same foot.
m- meter
A shorter step length with higher cadence can help reduce loading.
Faster runners typically have longer step lengths. For many runners, running with a slightly shorter step length compared to the natural self-selected step length can often help reduce loading and improve running efficiency, but large changes are likely to increase loading and reduce running efficiency. More experienced stronger runners are likely to be able to achieve longer step lengths without over-striding, whereas less experienced weaker runners have a risk of over-striding when step length is longer.
For stride length, the same insights applies.
Impulse
Impulse is the sum of all the forces acting on your body for the duration of a single step. Higher forces over a longer time will result in higher impulse, lower forces and/or a shorter time will result in lower impulse.
