How is Walking Gait Assessed?

What Is Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis is a system of scientific assessment used to study how the body moves and how biomechanical factors affect the feet, hips, lower back, and limbs.

In a clinical setting, gait analysis involves observing a patient walking, and sometimes running, from multiple angles. The podiatrist pays close attention to foot strike patterns, ankle and knee alignment, hip movement, pelvic stability, and the symmetry of each side of the body.

In some cases, slow-motion video technology or pressure-plate sensors are used to capture data that would be impossible to detect with the naked eye alone.

This technology allows for frame-by-frame review, which may be particularly useful for identifying subtle deviations in heel strike and early stance phase that occur too quickly to observe in real time.

Why Does It Matter?

Your feet are the body's foundation. Every step sends forces travelling upward through the ankles, knees, hips, and spine.

When something is not functioning correctly at ground level, even something as subtle as the way your foot rolls inward, it may create a cascade of stress and compensation higher up the kinetic chain.

Understanding Normal Gait for Walking

Normal gait for walking follows a repeating cycle called the gait cycle. Each cycle begins when one heel strikes the ground and ends when that same heel makes contact again. Across every step, the gait cycle is divided into two primary phases: the stance phase and the swing phase.

Both feet make contact with the ground simultaneously at two brief periods during each cycle, known as double support. This accounts for approximately 20% of the total gait cycle.

This double support disappears entirely when running, which is one of the key biomechanical distinctions between walking and running.

Normal walking involves a harmonious coordination of muscles throughout the hip, thigh, knee, lower leg, and foot.

At heel strike, the gluteus maximus and quadriceps work to decelerate the forward motion of the lower limb while the ankle dorsiflexors position the heel correctly for contact.

What Does a Biomechanical Assessment Involve?

A biomechanical assessment is a comprehensive clinical evaluation that goes well beyond simply watching a patient walk. It examines the structure, alignment, and function of the lower limbs in detail, allowing the podiatrist to potentially identify the underlying mechanical contributors to pain or dysfunction.

Understanding biomechanics matters because different parts of the body do not function in isolation; the function of one joint is directly influenced by those above and below it.

A thorough biomechanical assessment typically includes the following components:

1. History and Presenting Complaint

The assessment begins with a detailed discussion of the patient's symptoms, relevant medical history, activity levels, footwear habits, and any previous injuries. Understanding the context of the patient's pain is essential for interpreting the clinical findings that follow.

2. Static Assessment

The podiatrist will examine the patient's posture and alignment while standing still. This includes assessing the position of the feet (such as excessive inward rolling, known as pronation, or a high-arched, supinated posture), the alignment of the knees, the level of the hips, and any leg-length discrepancy.

3. Range of Motion and Muscle Testing

Joint mobility is measured throughout the foot, ankle, knee, and hip. This includes assessing the flexibility of the calf and hamstring muscles, the dorsiflexion range of the ankle, and the movement available at the subtalar and midtarsal joints. Muscle strength testing aims to identify any weakness or imbalance that may be contributing to altered movement patterns.

4. Footwear Assessment

Your current footwear is reviewed for appropriate support, cushioning, and fit. The wear patterns on the soles of your shoes can also reveal a great deal about your habitual gait mechanics, often showing asymmetrical loading or excessive pressure through certain areas.

5. Dynamic Gait Analysis

This is where the patient is observed walking, and, where relevant, running, to assess movement in real time. The podiatrist analyses foot strike pattern, the degree of pronation or supination, knee tracking, pelvic control, and the symmetry between the left and right sides.

In many modern podiatry clinics, this analysis is augmented by slow-motion video, pressure plates, or computerised treadmill systems that capture detailed kinetic and kinematic data. At our clinic, we may also use the Zebris Gait Analysis system, a widely recognised tool for gait and pressure analysis.

What May Gait Analysis Reveal?

The clinical value of gait analysis lies in its potential to connect the dots between a patient's symptoms and their movement patterns.

Pain in the knee, hip, or lower back may not originate in those structures at all; it may be a consequence of how forces are being transmitted upward from the foot with each step.

A podiatrist assessing your gait can identify contributing factors to a wide range of conditions, including:

Importantly, gait analysis not only benefits people who are already in pain. It is equally valuable as a preventive tool, aiming to identify mechanical risk factors before they progress to injury, and allowing early intervention with targeted exercises, footwear modifications, or custom orthotic therapy.

What Happens After the Assessment?

Following a gait analysis and biomechanical assessment, the podiatrist will explain their clinical findings and present a personalised management plan.

Depending on the patient’s concerns, this may include custom foot orthotics designed to modify foot mechanics and redistribute pressure, a targeted exercise programme addressing muscular weakness or tightness, specific footwear recommendations, gait retraining advice, or referral to another health professional where appropriate.

When to Consider a Gait Assessment

You do not need to be in severe pain to benefit from a gait analysis. If you experience recurring foot, knee, hip or lower back pain, have noticed uneven wear on your shoes, are returning to physical activity after injury, or simply want to understand how your body moves, speaking with a podiatrist may be a practical and informative first step.

Book a Gait Assessment at The Foot Clinic

At The Foot Clinic, our registered podiatrists use a thorough, evidence-based approach to gait analysis and biomechanical assessment to help you move better and feel better.

Whether you are dealing with persistent pain, recovering from injury, or simply want to understand your body's mechanics, we want to help.

Call us today or book online to arrange your assessment.

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