Gait analysis in Huntleigh, MO. Gait analysis, also referred to as motion analysis, is a way physical therapists and other healthcare professionals can evaluate your mobility to offer personalized therapy and return you to the things you enjoy most. Whether you’re an athlete recovering from an injury or you’re trying to manage arthritis, gait analysis can be part of an overall, evidence-backed treatment plan that’s customized for your lifestyle and goals.

Your Huntleigh, MO physical therapist can use gait analysis to:

• Identify and manage gait disorders
• Uncover underlying musculoskeletal or nerve dysfunction that results in pain or affects movement health
• Measure and follow treatment outcomes
• Prevent and recover from injuries
• Prescribe orthotic or prosthetic devices
• Choose footwear that’s comfortable and helps prevent injuries

At Axes Physical Therapy in Huntleigh, MO, our team of physical therapists base our practice on one thing: positive patient outcomes. If you’re wondering if gait analysis can help you, call the Axes’ location closest to you or request an appointment through our website to get started with your treatment today.

What Is Gait Analysis?

When carried out by professional physical therapists, gait analysis is an assessment of how you move, specifically how you walk and run. By understanding how you walk and run, your physical therapist can offer insights into muscle imbalances, injury risks, the status of injury rehabilitation, and more. Because our gaits our the product of a combination of factors – strength, flexibility, coordination, vision, the vestibular system – gait analysis can provide a valuable look at your overall movement health.

In a gait analysis appointment, your Axes physical therapist in Huntleigh, MO will look at:

• Step length and width
• Cadence (number of steps taken per minute)
• Foot and ankle alignment to see if you have tendencies towards pronation (inward rolling) or supination (outward rolling)
• Joint movement and range of motion
• Movement of the pelvis to see if there is excessive rotating or titling
• Stability, balance, and body sway (the amount of lateral movement)
• Step repeatability (the similarity of your steps)

With precise insights into your gait, your Huntleigh, MO physical therapist can personalize your treatment and help you get back to the things you love most.

Who Gait Analysis Can Help in Huntleigh, MO

While gait analysis isn’t a treatment in and of itself, it provides valuable information to your physical therapist about your mobility, allowing them to offer more focused and personalized approach. As such, gait analysis can benefit a wide range of people in Huntleigh, MO:

• Athletes looking for a performance boost — Correct form becomes essential at the peak of sports. Gait analysis allows athletes to improve their form, identify strength imbalances and restricted mobility, and prevent injury.
• Athletes recovering from injury — If you’re coming back from an ACL tear or other sports injury, gait analysis can be used to monitor your progress and verify that your body is recovering and building strength adequately.
• Anyone else recovering from injury — Whether you were injured on the job, in a slip and fall, or underwent recent surgery, you don’t have to be an athlete to derive benefits from gait analysis in assisting your recuperation from trauma.
• Runners — Whether you’re just starting out in a beginner running program or you’re a seasoned veteran, gait analysis can help you in identifying the appropriate footwear, which, coupled with further insights from gait analysis, can enhance your speed, preserve energy, and minimize the risk of injury.
• Amputees — Having a limb removed can significantly disrupt your mobility health, in addition to resulting in phantom pain. Gait analysis allows healthcare professionals to design and fit orthotic and prosthetic devices tailored to your body and lifestyle. It can furthermore support you in adapting to your new device and optimizing its performance and comfort.
• Those with neurological conditions — Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, and various conditions can greatly affect our daily lives and movement health. Gait analysis enables healthcare professionals to monitor disease progression, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and guide rehabilitation strategies.
• Older adults — Our bodies inherently lose strength as we age. This can result in an heightened risk of falling for older adults, as well as degenerative conditions such as tendonitis and arthritis. Gait analysis can provide assistance in discovering ways to lessen pressure on aching joints, reduce injury risks, and evaluate the cognitive and motor facets of movement health.

Regardless of why you’re seeking out physical therapy, whether it’s aiming to finally run that marathon or simply enjoy your day-to-day life without discomfort, Axes’ licensed physical and occupational therapists in Huntleigh, MO will employ gait analysis to personalize your treatment, optimize your care, and assist you in returning to the pursuits you love.

Two Types of Gait Analysis

There are typically two primary types of gait analysis:

1. Qualitative gait analysis — Also known as clinical gait analysis, this method entails a physical therapist directly watching your gait as you walk and via video recordings. It allows the physical therapist to obtain a broad assessment of your mobility health and effortlessly spot any noticeable patterns. Qualitative gait analysis relies on the clinical expertise of the therapist to draw conclusions.
2. Quantitative gait analysis — Also known as instrument-assisted gait analysis, this technique employs advanced technology, including sensors and motion capture software, to provide objective, measurable data about your gait. By utilizing precise numerical values, it enables more in-depth analysis and tracking of your improvement over a period of time.

Both qualitative and instrument-assisted gait analysis are appropriate in the right circumstances and with specific patients. At Axes, our team in Huntleigh, MO has the capacity and knowledge to personalize our gait analysis services to address your specific needs.

Axes’ DorsaVi Video Motion Analysis in Huntleigh, MO

At Axes, our primary focus is delivering positive patient outcomes and helping individuals in returning to their cherished activities. To accomplish this, we employ every available tool that can help our patients in Huntleigh, MO. When conducting gait analysis in Huntleigh, MO, our expert physical therapists employ advanced DorsaVi video motion analysis to offer both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

With DorsaVi video motion analysis:

• Sensors are positioned on your body that track your movement, muscle activity, and static postures
• DorsaVi’s software converts that complicated data into helpful information that your physical therapist can analyze
• During playback, your movements are slowed down to aid a more comprehensive analysis and examination of your movement
• Your Axes’ physical therapist integrates these insights with their professional observations to recommend effective, evidence-based treatment modalities
• Your progress is regularly monitored over time and evaluated against the average population as well as your prior sessions

Axes’ Approach to Gait Analysis in Huntleigh, MO

Axes Physical Therapy is committed to providing our Huntleigh, MO patients with successful, safe, and scientifically validated treatment plans that suit their daily lives and goals. Gait analysis can be included in your personalized treatment plan:

• To get started, consult your doctor to assess if gait analysis may be advantageous for you, or visit any Axes’ location for a complimentary injury screening.
• We’ll perform a comprehensive patient interview and assessment to gain insight into your goals, preferences, and health background.
• We’ll create a team with you and your doctor, including the results of gait analysis into your all-encompassing treatment approach, optimizing your mobility health, and promoting overall wellness.
• We’ll design personalized treatment plans integrating methodologies that have been validated through research and scholarly studies, ensuring their efficacy.
• In addition to providing physical therapy exercises, we’ll support you in choosing suitable footwear, braces, or other devices, while educating you on achieving proper posture and enhancing movement health, drawing on insights acquired from gait analysis.
• We’ll leverage gait analysis, alongside other quantitative data and markers, to constantly evaluate your progress and modify your treatment plan accordingly.

Axes provides a lot more than just a list of exercises to tick off. With decades of combined experience, professional knowledge, and advanced technologies at our disposal, Axes offers a specialized team of physical therapists in Huntleigh, MO who are determined to provide optimal results in your treatment.

Other services we offer in Huntleigh, MO include:

• Neck Pain Treatment
• Physical Therapy Clinic
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Pain Physical Therapy
• Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
• Hip Pain Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
• Stroke Rehabilitation

Call Axes’ for Your Gait Analysis in Huntleigh, MO Today

Gait analysis is an invaluable tool that can positively improve your overall well-being and movement health, regardless of whether that involves soaring down the court or going up stairs without pain. As we are committed to providing customized, evidence-based treatment plans, we are one of the limited number of clinics in the Huntleigh, MO area that offer video motion analysis. If you want to improve your movement health, call the nearest Axes location or contact us online to find out if gait analysis in Huntleigh, MO is right for you.