Gait analysis is a scientific procedure for the empirical investigation of gait and is therefore part of the scientific field of movement analysis. It is used both in theoretical models to analyze gait patterns and in practice-oriented special medical cases. Gait analysis enables anatomical findings and targeted success in rehabilitation, sport and the manufacture of prostheses.
Here you will find further information and selected gait analysis specialists.
As a movement analysis tool, gait analysis focuses primarily on the human gait. Gait analysis uses a video camera to record the specific gait patterns of test subjects and patients. Particular attention is paid to the examination of ataxias (disorders of movement coordination).
In severe cases or for the exact collection of research material, the gait pattern can also be determined optoelectrically. Using force plates placed on the floor, experts record the intensity of the gait and compare the results with average values. The plates also check the pressure distribution when the feet are loaded in order to determine whether a section of the foot is overloaded.
Movement disorders are often caused by incorrect or excessive strain on the muscles. If a muscular cause of gait problems is suspected, an electromyograph is used.
The electromyograph uses suction cups at neuromuscular junctions to measure the muscle performance of individual muscle areas. The suction cups collect data on the electrical activity of individual muscles or muscle groups.
In electromyography, the brain is the main focus of attention. Motor processes are only triggered by the activity of cerebral (i.e. brain-related ) nerve cells.
Many motor phenomena and abnormalities have a neurological rather than an orthopaedic cause.
Gait analysis is used in many different areas. For example, research projects on motor skills or neurology often rely on the precise results of gait analysis. Gait analyses are also carried out in sport, especially in competitive sport. This allows athletes' movements to be optimized and the risk of injury to be reduced.
However, the most important practical area of application is medicine. Gait analyses simplify the diagnosis of orthopaedic or neurological complaints and often provide revealing background information. Thanks to the accuracy of the multimedia results, doctors can develop a much better treatment therapy for a wide range of complaints.
Medical gait analyses enable, for example
The data collected can be compared with any previous examinations and then evaluated in order to make the correct diagnosis.
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The movement of the body is based on a complex interplay of different forces and systems. The neuromuscular structure of the body corresponds with the skeleton and other motor units such as cartilage or tendons.
In the course of a person's life, this apparatus is affected and usually subjected to heavy strain. There is a risk of wear and tear or injury to body segments due to incorrect loading and intensive strain, for example during sport.
A gait analysis can help to localize the causative body region. Physical characteristics that can be detected with a gait analysis:
With simultaneous electromyography, non-orthopaedic gait disorders can be traced back to neurological causes.
Based on the neurological findings, it is also possible to diagnose and treat cerebral movement disorders , which occur mainly in children. Neurological causes of gait disorders are
Gait analysis alone does not enable doctors to diagnose all of the above diseases beyond doubt. However, it does provide an indispensable tool for clarifying motor abnormalities.
In order to reliably diagnose the neurological clinical picture, specific neurological examinations are also required.
Many complaints such as leg pain or problems with the lumbar spine are caused by incorrect loading of the feet. When the feet are incorrectly loaded, a certain area is overstrained while another area is hardly strained at all. This prevents an even distribution of forces.
Shortened leg muscles or legs of different lengths also cause joint, bone and muscle pain. For the person affected, this means a real impairment of their quality of life.
Orthopaedic specialists are happy to prescribe insoles that balance out the distribution of forces under load and normalize gait. With a gait analysis, the insoles can be tailored to the specific characteristics of the individual body so that they contribute to a balanced gait.
However, gait analysis is groundbreaking in the field of prosthesis production. This offers hope for people who have had to have a leg or part of a leg amputated. Thanks to ever-improving prostheses, those affected can learn to walk again.
The collaboration between research institutes and companies with patients and gait analysis makes it possible to produce prostheses for different types of weight-bearing. Some prostheses are so powerful that athletes with an amputation can once again achieve their best performance from before the amputation.
Movement is an invaluable asset, especially for those with limited motor skills. Gait analysis is an effective procedure for identifying the causes of motor deficits and blockages.
Many clinics now offer gait analysis. The technique used is subject to constant further development and updating. Gait analysis is precise, thorough and effective in the search for motor or neurological complications.
If you suffer from gait disorders or motor-related pain, a gait analysis could help you find the cause.
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