Gait analysis is the study of how we walk.
We all have a pattern of walk which is unique to us.
Many of us suffer from pain in our feet, ankles, knees or hips which can be caused by the way that we walk.
These problems are often more pronounced if you are particularly active, as the forces going through your joints are so much higher.
The majority of people will encounter foot pain at some stage in their life.
How does a podiatrist analyse gait? ·   Checking the wear pattern on your footwear.
·   Observing your standing posture.
·   Observing your walking gait.
·   Observing your running gait.
·  Carrying out a functional assessment, which includes checking the range of motion available at all of the joints from the hip to the toes.
·   Checking the areas of high pressure on your feet.
From these findings a podiatrist can determine whether your gait is one of the factors in causing your injury.
There could be many reasons for this including a leg length discrepancy, muscle tightness, or hypermobility of joints.
How would my injury be treated? Common treatments include rest (by either inactivity or a supporting device), ice therapy, exercise prescription, orthotics or in some cases a referral for a surgical opinion.
Exercise prescription and orthotics have a high success rate for many conditions of the lower limb.
What should I take to an appointment? A pair of shorts so that your knees can be seen during gait analysis is ideal.
A pair of shoes which have had a lot of wear would also give a lot of information to your podiatrist.