Gait analysis is a method for identifying possible causes of pain and other problems
Gait analysis is the assessment of your walking pattern. If you walk even slightly differently to what you might call a normal movement pattern the injuries can build up in the feet, ankles knees, hips and even into the back. Some people with shoulder problems can even have these traced back to an abnormal gait pattern.
At Paragon Physiotherapy we use slow motion video analysis in order to, not only assess your gait but also to offer you the opportunity of looking at your self. We are often unaware of how we walk and having the opportunity to look ourselves can assist in your understanding of why you are in pain or uncomfortable.
Incredibly it only takes a small injury resulting in mild pain, stiffness or weakness to affect the way you walk or run. By not resolving your walking pattern you are predisposing yourself to other long term conditions such as arthritis.
Common Walking (Gait) Problems
With injury or illness, the way you walk can be very different from normal. An experienced physiotherapist will be able to detect gait abnormalities purely via observing your walking or running style. We will use video analysis to show you the problem areas and then begin techniques of treating your problems.
Pain – resulting in an antalgic gait pattern (limp)
A painful knee or hip generally has a root cause in how you stand, walk or run. So attending the physio appointment may not necessarily mean only your knee is treated. You may find yourself having to address you whole walking or running pattern to avoid similar injuries in the future.
Hip Drop
If your hip drops down as you put weight through it you can cause severe problems with your hips and back. This is usually due to poor muscle control and can be treated with appropriate physiotherapy.
Reduced ground clearance
This can lead to you swinging your leg and rotating at the hips. Poor muscle control is often at the root of this problem.
- Walking with your weight too far forward
- Walking with your weight too far back
- Reduced Balance
Running Analysis
Assessing how you run is very important. Very few people run correctly and without injury or pain. However, you can take steps to improve your running style and reduce your injures. Injury rates for runners are far greater than those for power lifters and body builders.
When you run you can do over 8,000 foot strikes per 45 min run. You can generate a force of up to 11 times your body weight going through your patellofemoral joint, and have compressive loads through your Achilles tendon of 14 times your body weight. This is why it is important to get these foot strikes right!
Our running analysis will video you running on a treadmill to capture every movement at each stage of the running step.
We are looking for:
How you actually run. This means looking at:
- Where you place your feet.
- Your pace
- How you place your feet.
- Your stance
- Your body position
- Your arm position
- Any compensations for injuries and poor technique.
Where you have restricted movement. This means looking at:
- Joint stiffness
- Muscle tightness
- Pain
- Biomechanical misalignment
- Compensating
Where you lack control. This means looking at:
- Joint hypermobility
- Muscle weakness
- Core stability problems
- Over pronating
- Over supinating
What type of training shoe would suit you best
Whether you should consider orthotics in your running shoes.