Vertical oscillation

Also known as: bounce, vertical displacement

The up-and-down bounce of your center of mass with each stride, measured in centimeters — a key signal of wasted energy.

Why it matters

Vertical oscillation is a simple way to judge whether you are bouncing too much instead of moving efficiently forward.

What it means

Healthy range is roughly 6–10 cm, or about 5–10% of body height. High oscillation wastes energy and increases impact loading. Raising cadence is the fastest fix, since a quicker turnover naturally flattens out the bounce without any conscious effort to "run smoother."