What is a Gait Analysis?

Whether you have foot pain, leg pain, or back pain, or whether you’re an athlete who wants to perform better, your podiatrist may order a gait analysis. Although walking is a basic human function, it’s actually quite complicated. Even a slight misalignment along your kinetic chain can put tremendous strain on your back, hips, knees, or ankles.

How you walk (i.e., your gait) profoundly affects the health of your joints and the alignment of your spine. Ideally, your foot arch absorbs the shock of each step, while the complex network of your toes and ankles helps stabilize you. 

You probably don’t think too much about how you walk, stride, or run. You may have an abnormal gait and don’t even realize it. That’s where gait analysis comes in. 

At Concord Podiatry, expert podiatrist David E. Biss, DPM, offers gait analysis in the comfort of our Concord and Plymouth, New Hampshire, offices. This simple test then helps him design a treatment plan that enables you to walk or run more efficiently, minimizing the risk of injury and alleviating any current pain.

So what’s a gait analysis, and what will you learn from one? Here’s a summary.

How we analyze your gait

You take a gait analysis step by step. Literally. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other on a special computerized treadmill that evaluates how your feet strike the ground, the length of your stride, force during propulsion, and other factors related to your gait.

During your test, you simply walk as you normally would so that Dr. Biss can assess your stride. If you’re a runner, jogger, or other type of athlete, we may also have you run. 

The treadmill’s computer analyzes various aspects of your stride, which is the act of taking a step while walking or running. We break down your gait cycle into two phases – stance and swing — then into eight subphases.

Phase 1: Stance

During the stance phase, some part of your foot is on the ground. This phase comprises 60% of your total gait cycle. Its five sub-phases are: 

• Initial contact – when your heel strikes
• Loading response – your foot hits the ground and flattens 
• Mid-stance – your shin bone is perpendicular to the ground
• Terminal stance – your heel comes up
• Pre-swing – your toes are off the ground

Next, your stride enters the swing phase. 

Phase 2: Swing 

During the swing phase, one foot is entirely off the ground. The other leg bears your full weight. The swing phase comprises 40% of your total gait cycle. It’s divided into three sub-phases: 

• Initial swing – the hip begins flexing
• Mid-swing – the hip moves the knee past the supporting leg
• Late swing – the knee and leg straighten in preparation for heel strike

Ideally, both of your feet contact the ground for 20% of the gait cycle — 10% at the start of the stance phase and 10% at the end of the stance phase. The rest of the time, only one foot is in contact with the ground.

What we learn from your gait analysis

The gait analysis also takes into account how you distribute your weight across each foot as it hits the ground and how each foot propels you forward to your next step. We can determine, for instance, if you underpronate, which means that your ankle rolls outward on a foot strike. This can create pain in your joints and may increase the risk of an ankle sprain.

If you overpronate, your arch collapses when your foot hits the ground. This can lead to problems such as:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Back pain

We may also apply electrodes to your skin that evaluate your muscle activity as you walk or run. Gait analysis may take several hours, depending on your case.

How we use your results

After your gait analysis, if we identify muscle or joint issues, we devise a treatment plan. If you have underpronation or overpronation, we may prescribe customized orthotics that you slip into your shoes. Orthotics compensate for misalignments so that your feet become a stable, efficient base for each stride.

Sometimes, a gait analysis may be a clue to an underlying condition that affects your stride and the efficiency of your kinetic chain. In such cases, we may order X-rays or other imaging studies to identify the root of your problem.

Ultimately, a gait analysis should lead to a treatment plan that helps you walk and run as efficiently and healthily as possible. To remedy any gait problems, we may recommend treatments such as: 

• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Orthotics

When you correct gait abnormalities, it reduces the strain on your body and helps you avoid complications and injuries.

Do you want to learn more about what gait analysis can do for you? Call Concord Podiatry to book a consultation and discover if a gait analysis can help you.