Gait Analysis & Correction

What Is Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis is the systematic assessment of how a person walks, focusing on posture, joint movement, muscle coordination, balance, and rhythm during walking. Walking may appear simple, but it requires precise coordination between the brain, nerves, muscles, and joints. Any imbalance can lead to inefficient walking, pain, fatigue, or risk of falls.

At Physio Excellence, gait analysis helps identify abnormal walking patterns and their underlying causes, allowing targeted and evidence-based correction.

Phases of Gait

• Stance Phase

The stance phase occurs when the foot is in contact with the ground and supports body weight. It accounts for about 60% of the gait cycle. This phase includes heel strike, mid-stance, and push-off. Proper stance phase requires good joint alignment, muscle strength, balance, and shock absorption.

• Swing Phase

The swing phase occurs when the foot moves forward through the air to prepare for the next step. It makes up about 40% of the gait cycle. This phase requires coordinated hip, knee, and ankle movement, along with adequate muscle control and balance.

• Common Gait Problems in Children

Children may show toe walking, in-toeing, out-toeing, flat-foot gait, frequent falls, poor balance, or delayed walking. These may result from muscle weakness, tightness, neurological conditions, poor postural control, or developmental delays. Abnormal gait in children, if untreated, can affect posture, endurance, and participation in play and school activities.

• Common Gait Problems in Elderly

In older adults, gait changes often include short steps, slow walking speed, shuffling, poor foot clearance during swing phase, reduced push-off, and imbalance during stance phase. These changes are commonly associated with muscle weakness, joint stiffness, neurological conditions, poor balance, or fear of falling. Abnormal gait significantly increases the risk of falls and loss of independence.

Effects of Abnormal Gait in Daily Life

Poor gait leads to increased energy expenditure, joint stress, pain in the hips, knees, and back, reduced walking endurance, and higher fall risk. Children may avoid physical activity, while elderly individuals may limit mobility and become dependent on others.

How Physiotherapy Helps Improve Gait

• Detailed Gait Assessment

Physiotherapists analyze walking patterns, step length, symmetry, balance, foot placement, and movement during stance and swing phases to identify the root cause of gait abnormalities.

Stance Phase Correction

Physiotherapy improves stance phase by strengthening weight-bearing muscles, improving joint alignment, enhancing balance reactions, and training proper heel strike and push-off. This leads to better stability and reduced joint stress.

• Swing Phase Correction

Therapy focuses on improving muscle coordination, joint mobility, foot clearance, and timing during swing phase. Exercises enhance hip and knee control, ankle mobility, and overall walking rhythm.

• Functional Gait Training

Task-specific walking exercises, balance training, treadmill training, and functional mobility drills are used to retrain efficient walking patterns.

• Assistive & Preventive Strategies

For elderly patients, physiotherapy also includes fall prevention training, confidence building, posture correction, and guidance on safe walking strategies or assistive devices if required.