1. What is a Gait Analysis System?

Gait analysis system is used to analyze a patients gait.

By using technology you can measure and evaluate how a person walks.

When a patient walks across a set area the system will gather data about the patients gait.

This allows you to look at more factors when evaluating how a patient walks.

Based on what type of gait analysis system you have it can help you look at;

• Walking speed

• Cadence

• Step length

• Stride length

• Step width

• Stance time

• Swing time

• Gait Cycle

• Left Right Asymmetry

• Plantar Pressure

• Ground reaction forces

• Joint angle

• Body position

There are many gait analysis systems that will only give you the patients temporal and spatial data.

Others allow you to incorporate more technology into your analysis such as pressure, camera systems and wearables.

So as you can see there are many benefits to having a gait analysis system in your clinic.

Just remember to evaluate your patient clinically as well.

2. How does a Gait Analysis System work?

As stated above there are many types of gait analysis systems.

But all of them will involve the patient walking and gathering data on the patient’s gait.

First you will need to prep your patient to walk across your measurement system.

Whether that is a walkway or having the patient wear sensors on there body.

Once the patient is ready to walk your system will begin to gather information on their movement.

Each type of technology will give you different information.

Pressure walkways will measure your patients foot contact and pressure.

Whereas a wearable sensor may measure acceleration of the body.

You can also use a camera system to record your patient walking from different angles.

Your analysis software will then take this information and convert it into easy to read graphs and data.

Which can include but not limited to.

• Numbers

• Gait Graphs

• Pressure Maps

• Foot Contact

• Left Right Comparison

• Temporal Data

• Spatial Data

All in one assessment.

3. What can a Gait Analysis System measure?

There are many things you can measure when using a gait analysis system.

Below is a list of common measurements.

Walking Speed

Measures how fast a patient is able to walk over a certain distance.

This is a good indicator of how your patient is walking.

You can also measure walking speed at different points during your patients rehab journey.

Cadence

Cadence is how many steps a person takes in a given amount of time.

Step Length

How far someone travels with one step. You can compare patients left step length to their right step length.

Stride Length

How far someone travels with a full stride (right foot and left foot).

Step Width

How wide a persons feet are apart when walking. This can also give you information about how they are walking.

Stance Time

How long the foot is in contact with the ground.

Swing Time

How long the foot is off the ground.

Gait Symmetry

Can measure many aspects of the gait cycle to see if there are any differences between left and right.

Plantar Pressure

Using a gait analysis system that measures pressure can tell you how much pressure is under the foot. And where the foot is putting more pressure then others.

4. What goes into a Gait Analysis System?

There are many different technologies that can be incorporated into a gait analysis system.

4.1 Instrumented Walkway

A walkway that has sensors built into the floor that can measure foot contact and other factors when a person walks across it.

4.2 Pressure Sensors

Pressure can also be measured using sensors that you place under the foot. These will give you a map of where your patient is putting more pressure then others.

4.3 Force Plates

Force plates can measure ground reaction forces that occur when walking. This can give you more information about your patients gait.

4.4 Wearable Sensors

You can also use wearable sensors to gather information about a patients gait. Some can measure acceleration and body movement.

These can also be useful if you don’t want to invest in a walkway.

4.5 Camera System

Using a camera you can film a patient walking. Some motion capture systems can also measure body movement.

4.6 Software

Once you gather all of this information you can input it into a software program.

Which can give you graphs and more detailed information about your patient.

4.7 Patient Database

Most programs that are digital allow you to store your patients information. This can be helpful when looking at how your patient has progressed during their time with you.

5. Different Types of Gait Analysis Systems

There are many types of gait analysis systems that are used in clinics today.

Pressure Walkway

As mentioned above a pressure walkway can measure your patients gait as they walk across the walkway.

Because the patient just needs to walk across the walkway it can easily be added into your current workflow.

Force Plate

Force plates can also measure a patients gait. They can give you more detailed information about the forces that occur during a step.

Wearables

There are also many wearable sensors that can be attached to the body to measure patients gait.

Video

You can also use a video system to analyze your patients gait. This will allow you to watch your patient walk and get a better idea of what is going on with their movement.

You can also use software that will analyze your patients video and give you more data.

3D Motion Capture

There are also 3D motion capture systems that can analyze your patients gait. These typically require more room to be set up.

Combined Technologies

You can also combine these technologies to get even more data about your patient.

6. Using a Gait Analysis System for Rehab

There are many reasons why you should use a gait analysis system for your patients.

But the main benefit I believe is being able to see how your patient is progressing through their rehab journey.

Here is what a normal flow of using a gait analysis system would look like.

Analyze your patients gait.

Look at what you can improve upon with your patients gait.

Begin working on those items with your patient.

After X amount of time test your patients gait again.

Now you can see what your patient has improved on and continue to work on those areas.

Gait Assessment System

Gait Assessment and Training

7. Gait Analysis for Stroke

There are many things that can effect a stroke patients gait.

Their gait can be slow or asymmetrical.

You can use a gait analysis system to measure these things and more.

Here are some examples of what you can measure in a stroke patients gait.

• Walking speed

• Step length

• Stride length

• Stance Time

• Swing Time

• Left Right Comparison

• Foot Pressure

• Cadence

You can then use this information to help guide your treatment plan for your patient.

Gait Rehab For Stroke

Stroke Rehab Body Weight Support

8. Gait Analysis for Neurological Conditions

Similar to stroke patients you can measure many things when analyzing your neurological patients gait.

Your patient may have a shorter step time on one side or be slower when walking.

You can use a gait analysis system to measure these things and help guide your treatment.

Internal Link: Balance Rehab for Stroke

9. Gait Analysis for Elderly Patients

As people get older they tend to walk slower and have a shorter step length.

Some may also have issues with balance which can effect how they walk.

You can use a gait analysis system to measure these things.

• Walking Speed

• Cadence

• Step Length

• Step Width

• Symmetry

• Step Time

Although a gait analysis system can help you identify why a patient may be falling. It is not a substitute for a full evaluation of your patient.

Balance Training For Elderly

Fall Prevention

10. Gait Analysis System Vs Gait Assessment System

Both of these can be used interchangeably.

But when searching for these terms there is a slight difference in what people are looking for.

Gait assessment system 

People are typically looking for something that will assess their patients gait.

Gait analysis system 

People are typically looking for a system that will give them more in depth information about a patients gait.

11. Gait Analysis System Vs Visual Gait Analysis

Visual gait analysis is also something that physical therapists should know how to do.

By watching your patient walk you can identify many things about their gait.

But if you want to get more detailed about your patients gait a gait analysis system will give you that information.

12. What Can A Gait Analysis System Do?

There are some benefits that come with using a digital gait analysis system.

Objective Gait Information

You are able to get objective data from the sensors.

This allows for your therapist to use objective information to go along with what they see visually.

Consistency

If you have a protocol you can get more consistency when measuring a patient.

Track Patients Progress

Your clinician can measure a patients progress at a base line and later on.

So you can track certain aspects of gait.

See Pressure Maps & Graphs

With pressure maps and graphs you can see the data in an easy to understand format.

Allowing your clinician to better see a patients pattern.

Help Create Patient Specific Rehab

After you assess a patient with a gait analysis system you can determine what areas of mobility they lack.

Then begin to train them based on your professional knowledge.

Digitally Save Your Patients Information

Some systems allow you to save your patients information.

So you can go back and reference previous testing.

13. What To Look For When Buying A Gait Analysis System

There are many things to consider when buying gait analysis equipment.

Not only does price play a role.

Know What You Want To Measure

If you want to know spatial and temporal values you will want a system that can measure those things.

Maybe you want to measure plantar pressure as well.

Look At The Sensor Technology

Pressure sensor, force plate, wearables and camera technology all play a role in what a system can measure.

Make Sure It Meets Your Needs

Depending on who you are treating you want to make sure the system is able to measure what you need.

Also look at the length of the walkway and what areas it can measure.

Accuracy And Repeatability

If you want to compare your patient over time you need a system that has good repeatability.

Check out the systems specs and research if there are any studies.

Software

Make sure the software can output easy to read information and graphs.

If you can compare patients to each other that is a plus.

Time It Takes To Set Up

If it takes too long to set up a patient it may slow down your workflow.

Space

Some gait labs take up a lot of room to install. Others can be worn on the patient.

Support

Training for your staff, updates, maintenance, calibration and after sales support should be considered.

14. Using Gait Analysis With Rehabilitation Training

As mentioned earlier you can use gait analysis with rehabilitation training.

After establishing base line measurements you can start to analyze what your patient is doing.

Once you know what your patient needs you can pick what type of rehab equipment they need to work with.

Here are some examples:

• Overground Gait Training Equipment
• Body Weight Support Gait Training
• Gait Training Machine
• Balance Rehab Equipment
• Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot
• Robotic Gait Rehabilitation

After training for a few sessions you can reassess your patient.

Then see how they have improved in certain areas.

Assess -> Train -> Assess -> Train etc.

As you can see gait analysis can play a big role in your patients rehabilitation.

15. Gait Analysis Technology

Technology is changing the way we look at gait analysis.

There are many wearable sensors that can measure gait outside of a lab setting.

Markerless Motion Analysis is also becoming popular.

Using computer vision we can analyze certain movements without markers.

AI is also being used to analyze data.

Keep in mind that as a clinician you will want to know what your patient is doing clinically as well.

There will be more technology that can link with your rehab equipment.

In the near future we may be able to use the information we collect from our gait analysis systems to program our gait trainers.

Opening up more possibilities to link with your rehab equipment.

16. Why Jamore Medical?

Jamore Medical is your source for rehabilitation equipment. We supply Hospitals, Rehab Centers and PT Clinics around the world.

We specialize in helping patients regain their mobility with Intelligent Rehabilitation Technology.

Some of our products include:

• Gait Analysis Systems
• Gait Assessment Systems
• Gait Training Equipment
• Overground Gait Training
• Body Weight Support
• Balance Rehabilitation
• Lower Limb Rehabilitation
• Robot Rehabilitation

As you can see there are many things to think about when looking into gait analysis.

Hopefully this gives you more information about gait analysis and how you can use it in your facility.

Join Sean Rehabilitation on Linkedin to learn more about Rehabilitation and Network with other Professionals in the field.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-rehabilitation/

17. Frequently Asked Questions

l What is a gait analysis system?

A Gait Analysis System is used to collect objective data on a humans gait.

l What can you measure with gait analysis?

Speed of walking, Cadence, Step Length, Stride Length, Step Time, Left Right Symmetry and Plantar Pressure.

l What type of equipment do I need to do gait analysis?

There are many types of equipment that can measure gait. Pressure walkway, Force Plate, Wearable Sensors, Cameras and Motion Capture.

l What is the difference between Gait Analysis and Gait Assessment?

Gait Analysis is when you are measuring aspects of a patients gait. Gait Assessment is when you take all of that information and use it to assess your patient.

l Can I measure plantar pressure with a gait analysis system?

Yes there are systems that can measure plantar pressure while your patient is standing or walking.

l Can I use gait analysis for stroke patients?

Yes you can use gait analysis to see how your patient is walking and measure certain parameters.

l Can I use gait analysis on my elderly patients?

Yes there are some systems that will give you objective data on certain aspects of your patients gait. Just keep in mind that you want to assess your patients balance as well.

l Can I measure my patients gait symmetry?

Yes if you have a system that measures left right you can see if your patient has any asymmetry.

l What should I look for when buying a gait analysis system?

Make sure it can measure what you want. Research the type of sensor it uses, accuracy and software. Also look at what type of patients you are treating. Make sure you have enough space in your facility and it will fit your workflow. Make sure the company can support your facility.

18. Conclusion

There are many benefits to having a gait analysis system in your facility.

Not only can you collect objective data on a patients gait.

But you can use the information to train your patient.

Measuring a patients gait and using that information to help them through rehabilitation.

Jamore Medical carries many products that can help with your patients rehabilitation. From Gait Analysis to Robot Rehabilitation.

If your looking for a way to better help your patients regain their mobility look into Jamore Medical.