Gait analysis in Sherman, MO. Gait analysis, alongside video motion analysis, is a way physical therapists and other healthcare practitioners can evaluate your movement to offer better care and return you to the things you like doing most. Whether you’re an athlete recovering from an injury or you’re trying to handle arthritis, gait analysis can be part of an overall, evidence-backed therapy program that’s tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

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

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

At Axes Physical Therapy in Sherman, MO, our team of physical therapists base our practice on one thing: getting you back to what you love most. If you’re wondering if gait analysis would be beneficial for you, call the Axes’ location most convenient for you or request an appointment online to get started with your treatment today.

What Is Gait Analysis?

When done by licensed physical therapists, gait analysis is an evaluation of how you move, specifically how you walk and run. By gaining precise information about how you move, your physical therapist can offer insights into muscle imbalances, injury risks, the progress of injury recovery, and more. Because our gaits our the product of a variety of factors – strength, flexibility, coordination, vision, the vestibular system – gait analysis can provide a valuable look at what may be affecting your movement health.

In a gait analysis appointment, your Axes physical therapist in Sherman, 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 a accurate understanding of your gait, your Sherman, MO physical therapist can personalize your treatment and help you get back to the things you love most.

Who Gait Analysis Can Help in Sherman, MO

While gait analysis isn’t a healing method in and of itself, it provides valuable data to your physical therapist about your mobility, allowing them to offer more specific and customized approach. As such, gait analysis can benefit a wide range of people in Sherman, MO:

• Athletes searching for a competitive edge in their sport — Correct form becomes vital at the pinnacle of athletic competition. Gait analysis allows athletes to improve their form, identify muscle imbalances and limited range of motion, and prevent injury.
• Athletes healing 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 ensure that your body is healing and developing strength appropriately.
• Others recovering from injury — Whether you were injured at work, in a slip and fall, or need post-surgical therapy, you don’t have to be an athlete to experience positives from gait analysis in facilitating your healing from trauma.
• Runners — Whether you’re just starting out in a beginner running program or you’re a seasoned veteran, gait analysis can assist you in identifying the right footwear, which, coupled with further insights from gait analysis, can boost your speed, conserve energy, and minimize the risk of injury.
• Amputees — Having a limb removed can drastically interrupt your movement health, as well as resulting in phantom pain. Gait analysis allows healthcare professionals to design and fit orthotic and prosthetic devices customized to your body and lifestyle. It can additionally help you in adapting to your new device and maximizing its function and comfort.
• People suffering from neurological conditions — Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, and other conditions can profoundly impact our day-to-day lives and movement health. Gait analysis enables healthcare professionals to monitor disease progression, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and direct rehabilitation strategies.
• Older adults — Our bodies inherently weaken as we age. This may lead to an heightened risk of falling for older adults, in addition to degenerative conditions like tendonitis and arthritis. Gait analysis can be beneficial in discovering ways to alleviate pressure on sore joints, minimize injury risks, and assess the cognitive and motor facets of mobility health.

No matter why you’re considering physical therapy, whether it’s aiming to finally run that marathon or simply engage in your daily life without discomfort, Axes’ licensed physical and occupational therapists in Sherman, MO will apply gait analysis to customize your treatment, maximize your care, and help you in getting back to the experiences you cherish.

Two Types of Gait Analysis

There are generally two main types of gait analysis:

1. Qualitative gait analysis — Also known as clinical gait analysis, this method entails a physical therapist directly observing your gait as you walk and via video recordings. It enables the physical therapist to gain a general overview of your mobility health and readily detect any apparent 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 specific technology, including sensors and motion capture software, to deliver objective, measurable data regarding your gait. By utilizing precise numerical values, it allows greater thorough analysis and monitoring of your progress over a period of time.

Both qualitative and quantitative gait analysis are appropriate in the right situations and with specific patients. At Axes, our team in Sherman, MO possesses the capabilities and knowledge to customize our gait analysis services to address your specific needs.

Axes’ DorsaVi Video Motion Analysis in Sherman, MO

At Axes, our main objective is achieving positive patient outcomes and assisting individuals in returning to what they love most. To accomplish this, we utilize every available tool to support our patients in Sherman, MO. When conducting gait analysis in Sherman, MO, our experienced physical therapists employ cutting-edge DorsaVi video motion analysis to provide combined qualitative and quantitative analysis.

With DorsaVi video motion analysis:

• Sensors are placed on your body that record your movement, muscle activity, and static postures
• DorsaVi’s software converts that algorithmic information into valuable information that your physical therapist can review
• During video replay, your movements are slowed down to aid a more thorough analysis and breakdown of your movement
• Your Axes’ physical therapist combines these insights with their professional observations to recommend efficient, proven treatment modalities
• Your progress is continuously monitored over time and compared against the typical population as well as your prior sessions

Axes’ Approach to Gait Analysis in Sherman, MO

Axes Physical Therapy is dedicated to offering our Sherman, MO patients with successful, safe, and scientifically validated treatment plans that align with their daily lives and objectives. Gait analysis can be included in your individualized treatment plan:

• To get started, ask your doctor if gait analysis might be helpful for you, or visit any Axes’ location for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening.
• We’ll conduct a comprehensive history taking and physical examination to understand your objectives, preferences, and medical history.
• We’ll form a partnership with you and your doctor, incorporating the insights from gait analysis into your all-encompassing treatment approach, optimizing your movement health, and promoting overall well-being.
• We’ll develop personalized treatment plans incorporating methodologies that have been proven through research and peer-reviewed studies, ensuring their effectiveness.
• In addition to providing physical therapy exercises, we’ll help you in selecting proper footwear, braces, or other devices, while educating you on maintaining proper posture and optimizing movement health, drawing on insights acquired from gait analysis.
• We’ll use gait analysis, together with other quantitative information and markers, to continuously evaluate your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Axes delivers a lot more than just a series of exercises to complete. With decades of combined experience, clinical expertise, and innovative technologies at our disposal, Axes provides a specialized team of physical therapists in Sherman, MO who are determined to deliver optimal results in your treatment.

Other services we offer in Sherman, MO include:

• 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
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

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

Gait analysis is an invaluable tool that can positively enhance your overall well-being and performance, whether that involves gliding down the court or playing with your grandkids without pain. As we are committed to offering customized, evidence-based treatment plans, we are the few clinics in the Sherman, MO area that provide video motion analysis. If you want to optimize your movement health, call the nearest Axes location or contact us online to ascertain if gait analysis in Sherman, MO is suitable for you.