Gait analysis

A gait analysis is a study of a person’s body movement, usually as they walk or run. Methods of gait analysis vary from simple observation to complex 3-D monitoring systems. In most cases, a gait analysis requires a person to walk or run on a treadmill while a camera records their movements. Gait analysis technology experienced rapid improvement between the late twentieth century and the early twenty-first century. By the 2020s, markerless video and smartphone-based systems had expanded gait analysis beyond specialized labs.

Brief History

Gait is a manner of moving on foot, such as walking or running. Studies of human gait began in ancient times. In the fourth century BCE, Greek philosopher Aristotle published De motu animalium (also known as On the Motion of Animals or On the Gait of Animals) in which he discussed animal movements, including human movement. Long after Aristotle, seventeenth-century scientist Giovanni Borelli advanced the study of human movement when he described how people’s muscles move when they walk and identified specific phases in the gait cycle, or the pattern of movement that occurs as a person walks. Brothers Wilhelm and Eduard Weber built on Borelli’s ideas in the early nineteenth century when they developed a method for measuring the movements that occur when a person walks.

By the late nineteenth century, scientists had begun to use cameras to capture images of humans in motion. Others used light-emitting markers to analyze human movement. These advances helped scientists gain more insight into human gait. Throughout the twentieth century, researchers introduced myriad technologies to measure force, acceleration, rotation, range of motion, and other factors that influence gait.

Since the 1990s, doctors in clinical settings have used highly advanced 3-D technology to analyze gait. These systems utilize multiple cameras to collect information as a person walks or runs on a treadmill. The 3-D systems are so precise that doctors are able to identify the precise degree to which a person overpronates, or rolls his or her foot inward when walking. Video-based systems also may be found in other settings, such as stores that cater to runners. These gait analysis stations typically include a treadmill, a camera, and a computer.

Overview

Gait involves the entire body. A person’s gait speed determines how much each part of his or her body contributes to movement. When a person is walking, their legs do most of the work. As a person gains speed, their legs still do most of the work, but they begin to depend more on the upper body to maintain balance and stability. The repeating pattern of movements that a person makes as they walk or run is called the gait cycle. A complete gait cycle involves two main phases: a stance phase and a swing phase. The stance phase is when the foot is touching the ground. The swing phase is when the foot is off the ground. Experts further divide these two phases to describe particular motions within the gait cycle. One common method divides the main phases into six subphases:

1. Heel strike, or the moment when a person’s heel touches the ground.
2. Foot flat, or the moment when a person’s entire foot is touching the ground.
3. Mid-stance, or the moment when a person’s weight is transferred from the back of the foot to the front of the foot.
4. Heel-off, or the moment when a person’s heel leaves the ground.
5. Toe-off, or the moment when a person’s toe leaves the ground.
6. Mid-swing, or the moment when a person’s foot is off the ground and their knee is bent as they prepare for the next heel strike.

During a gait analysis, a person usually runs on a treadmill for a minute or so while a camera (or cameras) records their movements and sends the video to a computer. The person may also stand still on a foot scanner designed to analyze pressure points and arch type. An expert in gait analysis then uses special software to examine the results and determine abnormalities or weaknesses in the person’s gait.

One common abnormality is overpronation. Other examples of abnormalities include supination, hip hiking, ankle equinus, and pelvic tilt. Supination is when the foot rolls outward when walking or running, causing the outer edge of a person’s foot to receive more weight than it should. Hip hiking is a lifting of the hip on one side. Ankle equinus is when a person’s ability to bend the ankle upward (bringing the top of the foot toward the shin) is limited. Pelvic tilt is the manner in which the pelvis is situated in relation to the rest of the body. It may tilt forward, backward, or off to one side or the other. If one of these abnormalities is not already causing pain, weakness, or injury in the feet, ankles, shins, knees, hips, or back, it could cause problems in the future.

If a gait analysis expert determines that an abnormality is present, they will usually recommend ways to correct it. In some cases, a person can correct the problem simply by changing the type of shoe they wear. For example, a runner with a low arch who tends to overpronate may benefit from a shoe with more arch support. Others may benefit from orthotics, or specially designed shoes or shoe inserts that help correct gait. In some cases, a doctor or another expert may recommend an exercise regimen to strengthen particular muscles or joints and balance a person’s gait.

It is important to note that a professional gait analysis can be expensive, and not everyone needs one. It is also recommended that people use caution if they are in running stores with gait analysis stations. The quality of the analyses at such places can vary greatly. Doctors say that unless people are experiencing pain when they run or walk, they probably do not need to undergo a gait analysis. They recommend that athletes suffering from chronic pain or injury see a doctor to determine whether a gait analysis is necessary.

Bibliography

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