A 2024 Statista report states that running is one of the most popular sports worldwide. In 2021, 50 million Americans participated in some form of running or jogging. Annually, 65 to 80% of runners experience an injury, often resulting from faulty movement patterns and decreased energy efficiency. The five most common running complications include:
- Lower leg pain
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Knee meniscus injury
- Plantar fasciitis
- Medial tibial stress syndrome
To diagnose why you might be experiencing some of these symptoms and injuries, a physical therapist can perform a gait analysis on you.
What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis is a comprehensive assessment of your walking or running style conducted by a licensed physical therapist. This expert can identify movement-related abnormalities, pain, or inefficiencies and guide you toward a more efficient and pain-free stride.
This exam can include a technology-based method of identifying biomechanical abnormalities in the gait cycle. A physical therapist (PT) can use video to capture and assess how you walk or run. The evaluation involves filming the patient running from three positions: front, back, and side. After the filming, a PT will analyze the video in slow motion, using still frames and frame-by-frame motion assessment. This thorough approach ensures that no issue goes unnoticed.
During the exam, your PT will pay attention to your:
- Step and stride length
- Pronation (the way in which your foot contacts the ground)
- Cadence (the number of steps you take in a given period)
- Force
- Speed
- Line of progression (the direction in which you travel when moving)
- Swing time (the amount of time you require to swing your leg forward)
- Foot and hip angle
- Weight distribution
- Center of pressure (the part of your foot that first comes into contact with the floor)
The Importance of Gait Training
After the analysis, your PT will review any movement faults and recommend modifications and strategies to improve your gait. This process is highly personalized, taking into account your unique body and running style. Your PT may also provide two to three verbal, tactile, or visual cues to support the new movement pattern. You will then participate in a trial training session to test the strategies your PT has given you. Towards the end of the trial period, you will participate in interval training where the PT will ask you to run for one to three-minute periods, during which the therapist will correct the running until the new pattern is learned.
Gait analysis is often coupled with an exercise plan to address weak muscles, stiff joints, and short or lengthened muscles. If you have weak gluteal and hip muscles, your knees might collapse and cause pain at the patella or joint line. Your therapist will cue you to run with increased space between your knees and add gluteal and hip strengthening exercises to your therapy program to address muscle weakness.
While this article mainly references gait analysis for runners, it is important to note gait analysis can help with walking patterns or advancing mobility with adaptive equipment. Most therapists include some form of gait analysis with all physical therapy interventions because of how much information on impairments can be gained from how we walk. Walking is a primitive reflex, which means it uses a part of our central nervous system that is important for early development and carries over to many other aspects of how we move. As we work on how we walk or mobilize, we also improve our other capabilities.
What are the benefits of Gait Analysis?
Completing a gait analysis and resulting treatment plan can help you:
Reduce your risk of falls
- Balance and Stability: PT helps improve balance through targeted exercises and proprioceptive training, which reduces the risk of falls, especially in older adults.
- Strength Training: Strengthening key muscle groups, particularly in the legs and trunk, enhances stability and coordination.
- Environmental Assessment: PT can assess your environment and recommend modifications to reduce fall hazards.
Enhanced running performance
- Biomechanical Optimization: By identifying and correcting faulty movement patterns, PT helps improve running or gait efficiency and speed.
- Injury Prevention: A tailored treatment plan addresses individualized muscle imbalances and weaknesses, reducing the likelihood of injuries that can hinder performance.
- Technique Improvement: Guidance on proper running techniques, such as posture and stride mechanics, leads to better performance and reduced fatigue.
Increase your level of mobility
- Range of Motion: PT includes exercises that improve joint flexibility and overall range of motion, facilitating easier movement.
- Strengthening Weak Areas: Focused strength training helps address weak muscle groups, enhancing overall mobility and functional movement.
- Personalized Plans: Customized therapy programs ensure that your specific mobility needs are met, allowing you to engage more fully in daily activities.
Gain independence
- Functional Training: Progress in gait often requires functional exercises, empowering you to perform tasks independently and carrying over to other activities
- Confidence Building: As your strength and balance improve and you move more efficiently, your confidence in performing activities improves, leading to enhanced independence.
- Goal Setting: Achieving personal goals that improve gait encourages a forward-thinking approach to maintaining independence in daily life.
Reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and other diseases
- Cardiovascular Health: Regular exercise, as prescribed by PT, can improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Bone Health: Weight-bearing exercises like walking and running increase bone density, which helps combat osteoporosis and reduce fracture risk.
- Chronic Disease Management: Regular walking or running can be essential to managing conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and obesity through tailored exercise programs.
Improve Quality of Life
- Pain Reduction: PT techniques, such as manual therapy and modalities, can alleviate pain, allowing us to lead a better quality of life.
- Mental Health Benefits: Improved physical activity tolerance is linked to improved mood and reduced anxiety; regular exercise encouraged by physical therapy is a natural way to boost mental well-being.
- Social Engagement: Improving mobility and function with PT allows individuals to participate more actively in social and recreational activities, enhancing overall life satisfaction.
Find a Physical Therapist Near You
If you’ve experienced any pain while walking or running or have general questions about gait analysis, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a PT. Use our interactive map tool to find a physical therapist in your area. We are dedicated to helping you regain energy and live a healthier, more active life. Schedule an appointment today.