What's this thing called a gait analysis?

We  have a lot of patients and customers ask what exactly does a Pedorthist do when fitting a patient in shoes or orthotics. Well, there is actually a lot to it as we are just not staring at your feet.  When a Pedorthist completes a gait analysis, the goal is to look for abnormalities that can contribute to the foot problem. Recognizing normal and abnormal gait patterns can tell us a lot about your feet. Here is a snippet of what we are looking for when you walk. Don’t worry; I will keep it easy so no need to have a medical dictionary for this blog.

After learning about the patient’s history such as age, weight, activities or occupation and current issues, patients are watched walking with shoes and without shoes. We note particular attention to patient’s walking in shoes as the shoe itself can have a strong influence to the patient’s gait. We focus on feet however we also focus on the gait cycle, and overall body movement.  There are four main areas of the body we focus on during the gait analysis. The Pelvis/Hips, Knees, Ankle and of course, the foot. 

During the gait phase, the pelvis should rise and fall symmetrically. An unusual rise of one hip compared to the other could be a sign of leg length discrepancy or weakness of muscles such as the  anterior  tibialis. 

The knee is observed for signs of excessive movement and hyper extension. 

The ankle is noted for stability and fluid movement. The inability to move the ankle normally through the gait phase can signal the need for footwear modification.

The foot is observed in both weight bearing and not weight bearing positions. We watch for flexibility, contact points, movement through each stance of gait cycle then note the abnormalities. 

Once we look at all of the information, we can determine the correct style of shoe and if necessary, an over the counter insert or if need be, custom orthotics. When you visit for a gait analysis, bring in a sample of your shoes, socks and bring along any notes or recommendations from your Podiatrist. Your feet will be on the way to healthier steps before you know it!