Gait Examination
Gait examination is the analysis of walking problems by visually examining the interaction of the low back and the joints of the thighs, legs, and feet during the various stages of walking.
When performing a gait examination various stages of walking are observed including, initial contact, loading response, mid stance, terminal stance, pre swing, mid swing, and terminal swing.
Many back, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot problems may be caused by or manifest themselves in subtle gait abnormalities.
Gait Training
Gait training involves retraining the patient to improve their ability to walk as close to normal again. This training may involve:
- Stretching
- Strengthening
- Endurance exercise
- Balance exercises
- Visual/video training with feedback
- Verbal cues to improve walking patterns
- Training on different surfaces (grass, stairs, pavement, uneven surfaces)
There are a number of patients that can benefit from gait training including:
- Post-surgical hip, knee, ankle, foot patients
- Post-fracture patients
- Post-surgical spine surgery patients
- Patients with injuries to joints
- Patients with spinal cord injuries
- Vestibular/vertigo patients
- Neurologically involved patients
- Patients at risk for falls
- Stroke patients
- Numerous others
You’ve been diagnosed with a balance disorder and your doctor prescribed balance training to help you regain your balance and improve your quality of life. So, what is balance training, and how will it help me?
Balance Training
Balance training is an exercise program designed specifically for you to strengthen your legs, core and other muscles that…
- Improve standing balance and locomotor performance
- Improve stability and posture
- Help with fall prevention
What kinds of exercises will I be doing?
Your physical therapist will design an exercise program that is individualized to your needs and condition. Most will include slow, methodical movements that will strengthen your muscles and improve your balance.
These exercises may include:
- Standing on one leg for a few seconds, then standing on just the other leg for a few seconds.
- Standing on one leg and raising the other one to the side or behind you then repeating this on the other leg.
- Doing heel-to-toe walking as though you’re on a tightrope.
- Walking sideways using controlled movements.
- Doing alternating knee lifts as you walk.
- Doing foot circles in a seated position to strengthen the ankles.
- Standing up from a chair and sitting back down without using your hands.
- Doing Tai Chi or Yoga.
- Doing chair Yoga.
- Doing resistance band exercises such as arm curls, knees in and out, ankle pumps and hip extension.
- Bosu ball and wobble board exercises that challenge your balance.
Who benefits from balance training?
- Older adults with age-related balance disorders
- People with such neuromuscular conditions as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, stroke, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – Lou Gehrig’s disease
- People undergoing cancer rehabilitation
- Obese people
Practice makes perfect
Practice the balance activities you learn in therapy when you’re at home. This will help further strengthen your muscles and the nerves that control them. It’s easy to do the leg stance, walking, Theraband® and chair exercises while you’re watching TV at home.
Another great exercise you can do when you’re not in therapy is to take a dance class. Dancing requires no extra equipment. It improves your balance by strengthening your muscles and your nervous system’s ability to coordinate your muscles. Plus, it’s a great way to add some variety to your routine, get out of the house for a while and make new friends.
Don’t forget to get plenty of sleep
Research shows that being sleep-deprived can make your balance worse and it is directly related to accidental falls. You need at least 7 hours of restful sleep each night to be considered adequately rested. So, turn off the cellphone, TV and other distracting devices. Get your sleep and wake up much more refreshed each morning. This is another routine that is good for your health to practice consistently.
