Gait analysis is a valuable tool our physical therapists use at INVIVO Wellness to assess and improve the biomechanics of an individual’s walking or running patterns. By analyzing the way you move, we can identify potential issues and faulty movement patterns. Then we can provide you with personalized recommendations, and develop a targeted treatment plan for improvement.
What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis involves the systematic evaluation of an individual’s walking or running mechanics. We will examine your stride length, foot strike pattern, body alignment, joint movements, efficiency, and muscle activation. This comprehensive assessment helps identify any abnormalities, imbalances, or inefficient movement patterns that may contribute to pain, discomfort, or decreased performance.
At INVIVO Wellness, we will take video from three different angles to examine your stride length, foot strike pattern, cadence, arm swing, posture, and alignment. Then the physical therapist will suggest strategies, exercises, stretches, drills, and footwear to address the findings.
Why is Gait Analysis Important for Runners and Walkers?
Runners and walkers can greatly benefit from gait analysis as it allows you to gain insights into your unique movement patterns. By understanding how your body moves during locomotion, you can make necessary adjustments to improve efficiency and speed, reduce the risk of injuries, reduce movement patterns causing pain, and enhance your overall performance.
Gait analysis can be particularly valuable if you are new to running, experiencing pain, recurring injuries, or seeking to optimize your technique and increase distance.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapists at Invivo are highly skilled professionals who specialize in human movement and function. We use gait analysis as a diagnostic tool to design personalized treatment plans for runners and walkers. Here’s how physical therapy can help:
- Rehabilitation: When recovering from an injury we address strength and range of motion deficits or asymmetries and faulty movement patterns through both hands-on therapies and prescribed exercises to help you to make a safe return to running and walking.
- Injury Prevention: As injury prevention, we can identify biomechanical issues that may predispose you to injuries. We then address these issues through corrective techniques, targeted exercises, stretches, and footwear suggestions.
- Performance Enhancement: Gait analysis can reveal any inefficient movement patterns that hinder your performance. This may involve strengthening specific muscle groups, modifying foot strike patterns, arm swing, torso positioning, or adjusting stride length and cadence. We also look at vertical displacement as a way to conserve energy.
When to seek help and treatment
Gait analysis is an invaluable tool for runners and walkers seeking to improve performance, prevent injuries, and manage pain. Through the expertise of our physical therapists, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your unique movement patterns and receive targeted interventions to optimize your gait mechanics. This will enhance your overall movement quality, reduce your risk of injuries, and help you achieve your fitness goals with confidence.
Schedule an evaluation appointment with INVIVO Wellness physical therapy today. Our physical therapists also offer a complimentary screening to see if physical therapy is the best option for your situation.
INVIVO Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a whole-body approach to physical therapy meeting the needs of all age groups. Our therapists specialize in evaluating and treating disorders of the joints, muscles, fascia, and nerves that prevent normal movement, cause pain, and limit an active lifestyle.
Treatment plans may include hands-on manual therapies of joint and spine mobilizations/manipulations, massage and stretching techniques, electrical stimulation, therapeutic exercise programs, dry needling, and self-management recommendations. Ensure you can enjoy the benefits of an active, pain-free lifestyle.
