3D gait analysis

What is gait analysis?

Gait analysis is used to get detailed information about the way you walk.

Why have I been referred for gait analysis?

You have been referred because your doctor thinks that a gait analysis assessment will help decide the best treatment for your walking problem.

What is involved in the assessment?

There are 3 stages to the assessment:

The first stage is to take a video of you walking as you normally would.
We shall then measure your legs and how much you can move them.
We stick small silver balls on your legs – they are very light and do not hurt. With some people we will put extra sticky pads over your leg muscles to record how much your muscles are working.

You will then walk using your normal walking aids while a computer records the position of the silver balls. The computer joins up the silver balls to make a person walking on the computer. We can show this to you.

3D gait analysis assessments are used to help decide the best treatment to resolve problems with walking

Who is involved in the assessment?

There will be a physiotherapist and a clinical engineer conducting the assessment. There may also be a doctor present.

Occasionally we have students to learn about gait assessments. If you do not want them to be present, tell us on the day.

What should I wear?

As we need to see how your whole body moves, you will need to wear tight shorts, no longer than mid-thigh, and a short t-shirt or cropped top.

If you have a problem with clothing, please call us before your appointment to discuss.

What should I bring with me?

Bring your normal shoes with you. You need to bring any walking aids you use, for example, walking frames, splints (with appropriate shoes).

Where possible walking will be studied barefoot, and wearing splints and shoes.

How long does the assessment take?

The full assessment will take about two and a half hours but you will only be walking for about 20 minutes and you can have a rest whenever you need one.

What happens afterwards?

Gait analysis produces a lot of data. After you have left the unit, we will process the data and use this with other information about you to make recommendations.

We will then write a report for your doctor. Your doctor will meet with you to discuss the results and together you can decide on the best treatment.

Confidentiality

You will be asked to sign a consent form allowing the data and video to be recorded – this will be explained when you arrive. All data and video we take will only be seen by staff in the gait analysis unit unless you consent to other people seeing it.