Author: Amy Barnett
Gait analysis; a new and innovative method for reducing injury and improving performance in runners, walkers, and other athletes.
Up until recently clinical gait analysis was primarily used as a tool in medical settings to help individuals with movement disorders, such as cerebral palsy, or with prosthetics or bracing apparatus’ learn to move with more efficiently, with greater stability, and with increased comfort. It has now become a well-recognized and utilized method by sports medicine practitioners to assess the underlying origin of chronic overuse injuries.
Human motion is the result of a complex combination of work from the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and metabolic systems. Walking itself comes about due to multiple reflexive actions, preprogrammed muscle firing patterns, and conscious alterations. So in viewing a stride pattern we can get a glimps into how all of these systems are working together. When specific abnormal motions within the gait cycle are found at specific times, more precise conclusions can be drawn as to what is not working properly in the body.
Gait analysis has also gained popularity on the coaching scene as a tool for analyzing and perfecting technique and performance in athletes. For a majority of sports running is a fundamental component either as part of the activity itself or as an important conditioning tool. Athletes are required to be quick and agile, meaning that efficient movement is essential. The top players are often the ones with the greatest movement efficiency and highest running speed. In identifying very precise areas of an athletes running stride needing improvement, coaches can better design training programs that are more specific to the need of the individual athlete.
What is involved in a gait analysis?
Technically, the act of merely observing someone walk or run can be classified as performing a gait analysis, however, the most optimal methods are quite a bit more complex. The human eye cannot distinguish events occurring in less than 1/10th of a second. This makes pinpointing exact running and walking movement patterns difficult when merely viewing an individual’s stride from a distance. With specialized cameras and video analysis software, movement can be captured and viewed in slow motion and freeze-framed shots. This allows specialists to detect even the slightest gait abnormality. If several cameras are used at various angles to the individual, specific joint angles and movement patterns can also be measured making gait analysis more objective.
Many practitioners will also incorporate an evaluation of the anatomical structure of the feet, hips, and spine, in addition to a muscle flexibility and strength assessment. This gives a more complete view on those factors affecting the way a person walks or runs.
The most complex research gait labs consist of a 3D motion analysis system (numerous cameras, computers, and specific software), a runway, specialized lighting, force plates, and EMG equipment costing upwards of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars to set up. This type of facility is important for research applications but is generally impractical in most clinical and sports settings. Instead, clinical practitioners and coaches will typically use regular digital video cameras and will take video from the front, side and back of patients/athletes while walking or running on a treadmill or while performing certain athletic tasks. With specialized software, they can view video clip by clip for analysis.
Candidates for a gait analysis
Although many people would probably find it interesting to know how well they are walking or running the costs of a high-quality gait analysis, ranging anywhere from $200 - $1000, tends to limit clients to those who would significantly benefit from the service. This includes athletes, runners, or walkers who are chronically injured, who are interesting in preventing possible injuries from occurring/re-occurring, and who are interested in improving performance at their activity.
© Copyright, PeopleMenders.com Inc., 2009. All Rights Reserved.
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About the Author
Amy Barnett graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics. Through advanced biomechanical and digital video gait analysis, Amy is assisting recreational and elite athletes in perfecting their stride mechanics to be both injury preventative and efficient.
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