Why is Gait Analysis Important?

A gait analysis is a study that allows a clinician or specialist to assess the way an individual walks or moves. It can assess you in either walking or running so that if there is any abnormality then this could be identified and treated.

Who needs Gait Analysis?

Generally speaking, all humans have a slightly different gait, but there are many variations amongst the standard deviation. People who develop regular pain in their musculoskeletal system such as back, hips, knees, foot and ankle may find that the problem is functional and is related to the abnormal gait rather than a true pathology and their risk of injury is related to abnormal gait also.

Why is Gait Analysis Important?

The gait analysis allows a clinician to analyse and compare you to normal gait and therefore identify underlying abnormalities which may be causing you pain or recurrent problems.

For Injury Prevention

If there are excessive forces or torsional changes within your musculoskeletal system then this could cause a higher risk for injury and therefore gait analysis can reveal these hidden movement issues and allow them to be corrected either through rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy or even orthotic insoles and bracing techniques. Isometric testing on muscle can identify weak or overloaded muscles and can target therapy.

For Pain Management

Gait analysis could identify stresses to tissues which cause inflammatory changes and prevent these by fixing the abnormalities. We could also identify the source of the problem such as whether it’s certain hip flexor muscles or extensor muscles to the knee. A sequential gait analysis after a period after treatment could help track progress over time. Furthermore, in podiatric practice, podiatrists use it for footwear selection so that appropriate footwear can be utilised for sports as different foot types require different mechanical support structures.

Pronation and Supination Identification

A gait analysis allows us to check whether you have a certain foot type, whether it’s neutral, pronation, which means that you have excessive pronation that results in flat foot, or have a more higher arch foot type, related to supination. This helps identify the type of footwear that is suitable for you. It helps identify whether any of the pathologies or pain or symptoms or mechanical changes you’re suffering are related to your foot type.

Furthermore, deeper gait analysis could look at neurological issues or whether there are developmental issues in children that are resulting as a result of poor gait.

In terms of elite athletes, it’s important to optimise the gait so that you are most efficient when performing those activities and therefore video gait analysis allows an athlete to have the right footwear, the right rehabilitation and fix even the subtlest of abnormalities to achieve maximum performance. Athletes could also direct their training to any weaknesses identified.

Benefits of Gait Analysis

The benefits highlighted above are clear that gait analysis, especially in abnormal gait, would benefit in terms of prevention of injury, improve performance, resulting in less tissue stress.

Signs that you might need a Gait Analysis or a Gait Assessment

If you get a recurrent injury or if you have foot or ankle pain or lower limb problems including lower back pain then a gait analysis could help exclude some common abnormalities.

Cost of Gait Analysis

This varies on the type of gait analysis. Standard gait analysis may cost £220

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of gait analysis?

This is to assess your gait and movement pattern and any risk of injury.

What is the most common cause of gait disorder?

Mostly it’s functional and developmental, and you have a certain foot type that causes a certain set of injuries. Other reasons could be neurological or post-injury weakness.

Can walking gait indicate a health problem?

When there is a neurological involvement or conditions which change your structure such as diabetes which can change tissue structure, this can be identified also with gait analysis.

Why is it important to analyse gait?

It is important to analyse gait in podiatric practice to prescribe orthotics or in other conditions. It allows longevity of the musculoskeletal system and prevents injury and early wear and tear of joints and ligaments.

Who should get gait analysis?

This very much depends on whether children have a normal gait or whether you are an adult and ageing and would like to optimise your health.