Gait Analysis

There are many methods to analyse gait and it is important to separate gait and body analysis out into that carried out for research purposes, analysis for clinical purposes and analysis carried out for the retail arena,  in running shops for example.  Gait analysis can also take many forms depending on the equipment being used to take the measurements.  These can stretch as far as using multi-dimensional and directional systems using body markers and very sophisticated cameras used at the cutting edge of research and in the movie business, to insole or pressure plate systems.  

 

Digital video photography can also be used as well as the naked eye.  Which one is better depends on the reasons for carrying out the analysis, the aims of those reasons and the outcomes required.

 

Data collected from gait technology should be utilised to understand presenting pathology. It should not be used to give a diagnosis, but can be used to support one. 

 

Equally, data can be used to help create a prescription for foot orthoses, but should never be used to generate an insole or suggest the requirements of an insole purely from the measurements that have been taken. The data gathered from gait analysis will not tell you that certain muscles are weak, or how much a pelvis is rotated or how large a limb length difference is.

There are many factors to consider in a treatment plan and gait analysis can be an important part, but should never be used as the method of insole generation alone. 

 

DO NOT USE PRACTITIONERS WHO CLAIM THEiR ORTHOSES ARE CUSTOM MADE FROM PRESSURE DATA ALONE

Axiomatic Podiatry incorporates gait analysis into each assessment. A more sophisticated analysis is not required in all situations and would be discussed following assessment and diagnosis