Gait analysis

As part of the exam, Aaron walks through the center.

Gait analysis is the quantification and evaluation of human motion which includes measurement of muscle activity, joint motion and forces and pressure under the feet during walking. The Motion Analysis Center at Children's Memorial offers this sophisticated computerized assessment to document the walking pattern of children and adults who may have neuromuscular, orthopaedic or other walking disorders. Pathological gait often is a combination of deviations imposed by the neurological system and secondary adaptations the patient makes to compensate for them. Identification of these gait pathologies is difficult, even for the trained eye, as a person can only register six or seven events which occur simultaneously. Moreover, it is impossible to observe dynamic deviations in muscle activity or joint forces which are often the source of walking difficulties.

Gait analysis allows clinicians to identify the motion and internal forces at each major joint and monitor the muscle activity which affects the motion at each major joint. After the assessment, all the information is discussed with the physician and other staff members to determine appropriate intervention.