Gait Analysis - A Systematic Assessment

Introduction

Gait analysis is the systematic study of human motion, utilizing the observer's eyes and brain in addition to equipment for observing movements, body mechanics, and muscle activation. Gait analysis is used to diagnose and treat people whose walking ability is affected by diseases. It is frequently employed in sports biomechanics to assist athletes in the running more effectively and to spot posture- or movement-related issues in patients with injuries.

What Is the Process of Gait Analysis?

• In a typical gait analysis lab, a treadmill or walkway is surrounded by several video or infrared cameras that are connected to a computer.

• The patient has groups of markers applied to half of the body segments or markers placed at different locations of reference on the body.

• The computer calculates the three-dimensional paths of each marker as the patient moves along the treadmill or catwalk.

• Most labs feature floor-mounted load transducers, also called force platforms, which detect the ground response forces and events, including their magnitude, direction, and position (referred to as the center of pressure).

• These measurements are used to compute the kinetics of gait patterns.

• However, this application of kinetics does not yield data for specific muscles but rather for muscle groups, such as the extensor or flexors of the leg.

• It is vital to look at the electrical activity of muscles to identify activity and the contribution of particular muscles to movement.

• In many laboratories, skin-attached surface electrodes are also used to monitor muscle electrical activity (EMG).

• By doing so, it is feasible to look at the muscle activation timings and, to some extent, the intensity of that activation, evaluating how those factors affect gait.

• Kinematic, kinetic, or EMG patterns that deviate from normal are utilized to diagnose certain illnesses, forecast treatment outcomes, or assess the efficacy of training regimens.

• Usually, the gait analysis process lasts between two and four hours.

• For an evaluation to be successful, patients must be able to walk ten steps back-to-back without assistance.

What Are the Different Approaches to Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis comprises measurements, the introduction, and analysis of quantifiable data, interpretation, and the drawing of inferences about the subject (health, age, size, weight, speed, etc.) The following are measured by the analysis:

1. Physical and Temporal: It includes calculations for speed, rhythmic length, pitch, and other factors. These measurements are performed by:

• Groundmarks and a stopwatch.

• Pressure mat, walking.

• Several centimeters above the ground, range laser sensors are scanning a plane.

• Program to analyze data, as well as sensors.

2. Kinematic:

• Chronophotography is the simplest technique for capturing movement.

• It has been done in the past to help analyze gait on a single photographic image by using strobe lights at a specified frequency.

• Joint angles and velocities can be measured using cine film or video recordings that include footage from single or numerous cameras.

• The creation of analysis software that substantially simplifies the analysis procedure and permits analysis in three dimensions rather than just two has assisted this strategy.

3. Gait Capture Without Markers:

• Markerless gait capture systems use one or more color cameras to instantly determine the locations of the body's joints from a series of photos.

• Without attaching any markers, the markerless technology enables non-invasive measurement of human gait in a natural setting.

• By doing away with markers, it is possible to increase the range of applications for human gait measurement and analysis methods, drastically cut down on setup time, and enable precise and effective motion assessment across a wide range of applications.

4. Measurement of Pressure:

• By revealing information about pressure distribution, contact area, the center of force movement, and symmetry between sides, pressure measurement instruments provide an additional tool for measuring gait.

• These systems often offer more information than just pressure; additional data from these systems include force, time, and geographical factors.

What Are the Uses of Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis, commonly referred to as walking or motion analysis, is a thorough assessment of how someone stands and moves. This analysis can be useful in:

• Determine the cause of any skeletal, nervous, or muscular issues.

• Find the cause of a patient's discomfort when standing or walking and assist in the diagnosis of skeletal irregularities or bone abnormalities.

• Assist in identifying nerve or muscle dysfunction.

• Examine the development of conditions like muscular dystrophy or rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnostics Tool in Medicine

• Pathological gait may be the direct cause of symptoms or it may represent compensatory mechanisms for underlying illnesses.

• Patients with cerebral palsy and stroke are frequently found in gait laboratories.

• The analysis of gait paves the way for future advancements in rehabilitation engineering as well as the formulation of diagnoses and intervention plans.

• Gait analysis is utilized in professional sports training, in addition to clinical settings, to enhance and optimize athletic performance.

• Assessment of gait problems and the results of remedial orthopedic surgery is made possible by gait analysis techniques.

Osteopathic and Chiropractic Applications:

• Gait analysis is useful for diagnosing conditions in the fields of osteopathic medicine and chiropractic since gait difficulties may be a sign of a displaced pelvis or sacrum.

• Both osteopathic and chiropractic practitioners may utilize gait to determine a pelvis' listing and can use a variety of procedures to restore a complete range of motion to the parts of the body engaged in ambulatory movement.

• Both osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and chiropractic pelvic adjustment have demonstrated a tendency to help restore gait patterns.

Biomechanics Comparison:

• Non-human animal gaits may be studied to learn more about the mechanics of locomotion, which has a variety of consequences for both the biology of the species in question and the study of locomotion more generally.

Biometrics:

• Gait recognition is a sort of behavioral biometric authentication that uses a person's gait and speed to identify and verify them.

• Since each individual might have a unique stride determined by certain measurements such as the placement of the ankle, knee, and hip, advances in gait identification have led to the creation of systems for forensic usage.

Conclusion

Gait analysis evaluates how the body travels from one location to another, often during walking or running. Gait analysis looks for any anomalies in how a person moves. Postural and gait irregularities can be caused by issues with any of these systems as well as issues with the associated joints. The analysis broadens the scope of the physical examination by capturing any gait anomalies, although patient history and present medical state must still be carefully considered.