What Is Gait Analysis?
Gait Analysis is the structured observation of how you walk or run. The assessment examines foot placement, stride pattern, balance, joint motion, and body alignment during movement. Clinicians use these observations to identify movement patterns that may relate to sports injuries, pain, reduced efficiency, or changes in physical function.
Quick Facts About Gait Analysis
Category
Movement assessment
Used for
Walking and running pattern review
Common confusion
It differs from a posture assessment
Also called
Walking Assessment, Gait assessment
Often discussed with
Sports Injury Treatment
Key Takeaways About Gait Analysis
- It focuses on movement patterns, not just painful areas.
- Observation can include walking, running, balance, and joint motion.
- Gait Analysis is not the same as a posture assessment.
How Gait Analysis Works
Gait Analysis begins with observation of walking or running. The clinician watches how the feet contact the ground, how the legs move, and how the pelvis and upper body respond. The review may include changes in speed, direction, balance, or surface when those changes help explain a movement pattern.
Related glossary terms: Postural Assessment, Range Of Motion, Anterior Pelvic Tilt.
Findings are considered alongside symptoms, injury history, and physical examination results. A runner who shifts weight away from one side, for example, may show a different pattern than during ordinary walking. The assessment does not diagnose every source of pain by itself. It adds movement information that can guide care for a sports injury.
Range Of Motion and Postural Assessment may support the review. Range of motion describes available joint movement, while posture assessment examines alignment at rest or during selected positions.
From the Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Riverdale team
When we review Gait Analysis during Sports Injury Treatment, we observe movement in relation to the person’s reported symptoms and activity demands. We look for consistent patterns, compare comfortable and affected movements, and use those findings to inform the broader clinical assessment.
Gait Analysis in Practice: A Real-World Example
A recreational runner reports knee discomfort after increasing training. During Gait Analysis, the clinician observes foot placement, leg tracking, and pelvic movement while the runner walks and runs, then considers those findings with the injury history.
Related Services
Related Terms
Postural Assessment
A postural assessment is a structured review of how you hold and move your body. A…
Range Of Motion
Range Of Motion is the available movement at a joint or body region during a specific…
Anterior Pelvic Tilt
Anterior Pelvic Tilt is a postural position in which the front of the pelvis rotates forward…
Sprain
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tough tissue that connects bones at a…
Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Riverdale
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