ReadMyMove

Metric glossary

Push-off (leg reach behind)

How far your thigh reaches behind you when your foot leaves the ground.

Pods needed
A pod on the thigh
Usual confidence
Medium what this means

What it is

At push-off, your leg extends behind you. We measure how far the thigh is behind vertical at the moment your toes leave the ground, in degrees. Technically: thigh extension at toe-off. It is a simple stand-in for hip extension.

How we measure it

A pod on the outside of the thigh tracks its tilt 100 times a second, against your standing pose. Stand still for 3 seconds at the start; without it, this number is hidden. The tilt of your pelvis is ignored here (it moves only about ±3°). With a pelvis pod as well, you also get hip extension at push-off.

Typical range

BandLeg reach behind at push-off
Good10° or more
Watch5° to 10°

It stays at "watch" at most.

How sure we are

Medium. See how confidence works.

What you can try

Cue: "push the ground back".

  • Half-kneeling hip-flexor stretch: 2 × 30 s per side.
  • Single-leg glute bridges: 2 × 10 per side.
  • A few relaxed uphill strides.

Research links a good push-off to running economy.

Good to know

See also knee drive and heel lift in the swing.

Updated 1 November 2026.

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ReadMyMove shows how you move. It does not assess injuries or health. If you have pain, see a health professional. If you're pain-free, there's no need to change something just because it differs from a typical range.