Cadence (gait)


Cadence in sports involving running is the total number of full cycles taken within a given period of time, often expressed in steps or cycles per minute. It is used as a measure of athletic performance.
It is similar to cadence in cycling; however, it is often overlooked in its importance in the sports of running and racewalking. This discrepancy may be attributable to other factors of importance in running, including stride length, technique, and other elements pertaining to bio-mechanical efficiency.
Note that in other sports such as weight lifting or bodybuilding, cadence can refer to the speed or time taken to complete a single lift, rather than how many repetitions of a lift are completed.