Gait analysis
Most of us spend a large proportion of the day on our feet - if you have an active lifestyle, you may take up to 10,000 steps each day. Your feet therefore play a vital role in protecting your body from unnecessary stress.
Problems which can arise from faulty foot mechanics are not confined solely (!) to the feet, nor is it just runners that suffer: shin splints, knee pain, Achilles Tendon problems and hamstring issues are common. Also, the forces transmitted from the feet through the hip and pelvis can be an underlying cause of back and neck pain.
We use a combination of methods to assess gait:
A physical examination is conducted to test the correct function of all the joints and muscles of the foot, ankle and leg.
A treadmill is used to observe your gait patterns during walking and running. These are filmed and analysed using specialist software.
A highly sophisticated force plate is then used to assess the forces transmitted through your foot as you walk.
The results are combined to evaluate the role your gait may be playing in your problem. Treatment may consist of osteopathic manipulation to restore function, exercises to improve muscle strength and balance, or application of prescription orthoses (shoe inserts) to compensate for biomechanical problems. We are also able to offer advice on appropriate sports footwear for certain foot conditions, such as over-pronation or supination.
Gait Analysis is a very useful tool in identifying an underlying cause of a problem in any individual. It is very helpful to sportsmen and women who may wish to ensure that poor gait is not detracting from optimum performance and can also be of use in children - foot problems often affect energy and activity levels.
