What Is A Functional Gait Assessment?
Your Physiotherapist will ask you to perform some key movements, as well as watch you walk on the treadmill. They may ask to video your walking in order to slow things down for analysis and to show you what is happening.
Walking or “Gait” Analysis shows us how your body has adapted to avoid pain, to compensate for weakness or to move around joint restrictions. It helps your Physiotherapist to look at your body as a whole to get at the root cause of your foot, lower body, movement or gait difficulties.
Your Physiotherapist will then use tailored corrective strategies from the feet up to help you achieve your goals, such as: balance exercises, strength exercises, mobility exercises, hands-on therapy like massage or mobilization, footwear education, toe spacers as needed, and potential referral for orthotics if needed.
The Human Gait Cycle:
The human gait cycle describes the pattern of the way we walk. It can be broken down into two main phases: the stance phase and the swing phase.
- Stance Phase: This is when your foot is on the ground. It starts when your heel strikes the ground and ends when your toes lift off. During most of this phase, your body is supported by one leg while the other is getting ready to step.
- Swing Phase: This is when the foot is in the air, moving forward. It begins as the toes lift off the ground and ends when that foot strikes the ground again.
We are meant to move efficiently throughout this cycle, creating a smooth, rhythmic gait pattern.
The goal of Physiotherapy is to assist you in reaching the goals that are important to you. We want to be educated on your area of concern or injury, and to promote optimal movement and healing. We will strengthen and build resilience in the affected areas, improve mobility, and build a solid foundation from the feet up. Your program will be specific to your needs or sport.
A Functional Gait Assessment (or a “walking” or “gait analysis”) can help you to move more efficiently, using your body optimally not only for strong, stable and pain free gait but also in your sport. We are passionate about offering ways to help you achieve your specific goals.
- Those with mobility challenges, or pain anywhere in the lower body.
- Those having trouble walking or participating in their sport because of an issue with their feet, lower body or back.
- Anyone who wants to improve their foot or lower body mobility and strength for their specific sport or activity
- Clients who may have had a pre-existing injury, surgery or diagnosis resulting in changes to their walking such as an antalgic gait (a limp to avoid pain) or a trendelenburg gait. A gait analysis can provide specific information to your Physiotherapist so that they can focus on areas that need improvement.
- Those with the following diagnoses or difficulties:
- Foot pain
- Ankle pain or sprains
- Toe pain
- Bunions (Hallux valgus)
- Hammer toes
- Plantar fasciitis
- Flat feet
- Heel pain
- Calf pain
- Shin pain
- Knee pain
- Hip pain or stiffness
- Back pain
- Post-op Total knee replacement
- Post-op Total hip replacement
- Balance difficulties or those experiencing falls
