THE IMPORTANCE OF GAIT/AMBULATION
What Is The Difference Between Ambulation and Gait?
Ambulation
- Ability to independently and efficiently transport the body from one place to another place
Gait
- How ambulation occurs
- The way you walk and run
Why Is Gait/Ambulation So Important?
- Just think about how many steps we take a day, especially over our entire lifetime, which is why it is so important to make sure you are walking properly with good body mechanics
- If you continue to walk and run with improper gait mechanics, this can put additional stress on multiple parts of your body, leading to a higher risk of developing an injury
What Can Alter Your Gait Mechanics?
- Pain
- Decreased ROM
- Sensory Impairment
- Structural Changes (Leg Length Discrepancy)
- Muscle Weakness
- Impaired Motor Coordination
Common Gait Deviations/Deficits
- Too much extension or flexion of the trunk
- Dropping of the pelvis
- Decreased pelvic rotation
- Excessive flexion of the hip
- Increased pelvic elevation
- Abrupt locking of the knee into extension
- Foot drop- an audible “slapping” noise on the ground
- Flat foot
- High arch
- “Knocked Knees” or “Bow-Leggedness”
We Can Discover Your Movement Patterns
- At ProTailored we can analyze your gait, which looks at your body’s function and movement as a whole
- It is common to demonstrate compensatory patterns for areas where you lack muscle strength and stabilization
- This can cause a strength imbalance to the muscles that stabilize and support your joints, leading to pain, lack of muscular coordination, and higher risk for falls
For more on proper gait mechanics or believe you present with gait deviations discussed above and would like to try conservative treatment, reach out to ProTailored Physical Therapy or call us at (260) 739-0300.