.jpg)
Gait Analysis is “the systematic study of animal locomotion, more specifically the study of human motion, using the eye and the brain of the observer, augmented by instrumentation for measuring body movement, body mechanics and the activity of the muscles.”
In other words, it is the study of how someone walks, and how they can be treated to walk/ run more efficiently. Commonly, it is used in sport as a form of rehabilitation, or to improve someone’s physical performance in Running events.
Nowadays, we can analyse our Gait Patterns to buy the best shoes which complement our individual differences. Due to the way in which some people run, they may need more ‘protection’ on one side of the shoe, or they may need a shoe made from a specific material. All these variations can be taken into consideration because of Gait Analysis.
There are a few apps which you can get on your phone to assess your own gait very simply, but elite athlete’s typically have state-of-the-art equipment, including several cameras, a treadmill or walkway which is linked to a computer, and markers which are placed on the body to create either a 2D or 3D image.
Your Gait (how you walk/ run) can be impacted by several factors which Gait Analysis can pick up on, these include;
1. Terrain
2. Sex
3. Weight
4. Bodily proportions
5. Musculoskeletal anomalies
And it can also pick up on individual differences which need to be considered when planning Treatment/ Rehabilitation plans;
1. Step length
2. Stride length
3. Cadence
4. Speed
5. Dynamic base
6. Progression line
7. Foot angle
8. Hip angle
9. Squat performance
There are multiple uses for Gait Analysis in different parts of the medical community. Those who suffer with Strokes and Cerebral Palsy are commonly seen in gait labs, as they are able to track the progression of such situations, and see whether there needs to be a special focus on a certain body part or a certain stage of walking.
The Gait Lab has been used for Chiropractic and Osteopathic patients. It as been seen that a faulty gait pattern may determine a misalignment in certain body parts (for example the Pelvis and/or Sacrum). Once this misalignment has been observed and determined, a plan can then be created to ‘fix’ it.
By knowing the Gait of high-level athletes, other athlete’s and teams, coaches and managers, have the chance to alter aspects of their own Gait, to compare themselves and reach the next level. If you were able to compare yourself to a high-performing athlete, and you could recognise what you had to do to run more like them, or jump more like them, in theory you should be able to take advantage of this new knowledge and improve in your own performance.
Comments