The stance phase comprises 40 percent of the gait cycle in running, compared with 60 percent of the gait cycle in walking. The time period during which forces are applied also differs dramatically between running and walking. A walker moving at a comfortable speed of 120 steps per minute has a total gait cycle time of 1 second. A runner moving at 12 miles per hour has a cycle time of 0.6 second, even though the stance phase decreases from.62 second to 0.2 seconds.

The stance phase can be further subdivided into three subphases. The first is called heel contact, which begins when the heel makes contact with the ground and is completed when the remainder of the foot touches the ground. During this portion of the stance phase, the foot is pronating at the subtalar joint. The leg is internally rotating while the foot is absorbing shock and functioning as a mobile adaptor to the ground surface.

The next portion of the stance phase is called midstance, which begins when the entire foot contacts the ground. The body weight passes over the foot as the tibia and the rest of the body move forward. The opposite leg is off the ground and the foot bears the body weight alone. During this subphase, the leg is externally rotating and the foot is supinating at the subtalar joint. The foot changes from being a mobile adaptor to becoming a rigid lever in order to propel the body forward during the final component of the stance phase, known as propulsion.

Propulsion begins after the heel is off the ground (heel off) and ends when the toe is off the ground (toe off). This subphase constitutes the final 35 percent of stance phase. The body is propelled forward during this subphase while weight is shifted to the opposite foot as it makes ground contact. The subtalar joint must be in a supinated position in order for this subphase to be normal and efficient. If abnormal pronation is occurring, the midstance subphase and this propulsion subphase are probably prolonged, with the result that weight transfer through the forefoot is not normal.

The swing phase begins immediately after toe-off. The first component of the swing phase is the forward swing, which occurs as the foot is being carried forward. The knee is flexed, and the ankle is dorsiflexed (lifting up) at this time. The next segment is called foot descent, in which the foot is positioned for weight bearing and the muscles stabilize the body to absorb the shock of heel contact. At heel contact the swing phase ends, and a new gait cycle begins.

In normal walking, the foot initially contacts the ground at the heel. The major determinant of where maximum heel wear occurs is the initial point of contact as determined by the transverse plane position of the foot at the time of contact. Medial heel wear likely indicates a gait in which the toes point in and usually occurs when there is rotational abnormality in the limb.

In the gait of much faster speeds, such as sprinting, there may be no initial heel contact. An individual might make contact at midfoot and then rock backward onto the heel or not touch the heel down at all.