1. What is a Gait Assessment System?

A Gait Assessment System is a system that can be used to analyze how a human walks.

By gathering quantitative data when a person stands or walks.

Which will allow the therapist to look at their patients mobility with more in depth data.

There are many different things that can be measured by a gait assessment system.

Depending on the system it may measure:

• Speed of walking
• Step Length
• Stride Length
• Cadence
• Step Time
• Gait Symmetry
• Plantar Pressure
• Center of Pressure
• Stance Time
• Swing Time
• Balance

Some systems will also be able to look at how the joints move and where the body is positioned.

So as you can see there are many benefits to using a gait assessment system for your patients.

Although you should always use measurement in conjunction with clinical assessment.

2. How does a Gait Assessment System work?

A Gait Assessment System will have some form of sensor that can gather information about a persons movement.

Once your patient is prepared for testing.

You will have them perform a task. Whether that be walking or standing.

The sensor(s) will gather information about certain movements.

Some will measure pressure movement, force, position or time.

Then the software will take that information and give you results.

These results can come in the form of graphs, numbers, gait maps or even reports.

You can then look at these numbers and compare them to other measurements.

Allowing you to use more data when looking at your patients during rehabilitation.

3. What does a Gait Assessment System Measure?

There are many things that can be measured by a gait assessment system.

Here are some of the most common things that are measured.

Speed of Walking

How fast a person can walk over a given distance.

Can be used to get an overall idea of how someone is walking.

Step Length

How far a person can step when their feet touch the ground.

You can also compare how far each foot steps to see if there is any asymmetry.

Stride Length

How far a person can travel when their foot touches the ground twice.

This would equal two steps.

Cadence

How many steps a person takes in a given amount of time.

Can be used to see how someone walks.

Stance Time

How long a foot stays on the ground.

Swing Time

How long it takes for a foot to swing to the next step.

Gait Symmetry

By looking at different measurements you can see if someone is symmetric or not.

If there is too big of a difference you may want to dig deeper.

Plantar Pressure

With pressure based systems you can look at how much pressure is applied under the feet.

This can help you see how your patient is loading through their feet.

4. What are the main components of a Gait Assessment System?

Most Gait Assessment Systems will consist of some form of hardware and software.

l Sensor Platform

The sensor platform will gather information about a persons walk.

There are many types of sensor platforms that you can use. Some will measure pressure or force.

l Instrumented Walkway

You may also have a walkway that has sensors built into it.

Your patient would walk over the walkway and gather data about their feet touching the ground.

l Wearables

You can also have wearables that can be placed on the body.

These will measure acceleration, angle or movement.

l Camera System

Another option is to use a camera system.

This can give you information about a persons movement.

You may even be able to use multiple cameras to get more in depth information.

l Computer/ Software

Once the data is gathered from the sensors. The software will take that information and display it for you to look at.

Giving you the ability to see your patients measurements.

l Database

Many Gait Assessment Systems will allow you to save your measurements.

So you can compare measurements from different sessions.

5. Different Types of Gait Assessment Systems

As you can see there are many different types of technology that can be used to look at your patients walk.

Pressure Based Gait Assessment

You can look at plantar pressure and how your patients feet touch the ground.

You will be able to see how pressure is applied when they stand or walk.

Instrumented Walkway

An instrumented walkway will allow you to gather data from multiple steps.

Giving you the ability to look at your patients spatial and temporal data.

Wearable Sensors

Using wearables you can look at your patients movement without having to use a walkway.

This can allow you to have more options when working with your patient.

Motion Capture

Motion capture systems can be used to track a patients movement.

You can get very detailed information from these systems.

Force Plates

Force plates can be used to look at forces that are applied when a person touches the ground.

Can be used to get more in depth information about a persons walk.

All In One Gait Assessment System

There are also systems that will allow you to use multiple types of sensors.

Such as combining pressure based with video or movement tracking.

Giving you the ability to look at your patient from all angles.

6. Gait Assessment System for Rehabilitation

When working with patients in rehabilitation you want to know more than just how they walk.

You may want to see how they walk over time.

A Gait Assessment System can give you this information.

You can assess your patient before they start their rehab program.

Then you can assess them again during their program.

And at another point in time you can see how they have changed.

Which gives you the opportunity to do the following.

Assess → Create a Training Plan → Rehabilitate → Assess Again

This can be used along side your clinical assessment and tests that you may already be doing.

Gait Assessment and Training

Gait Rehab System

7. Gait Assessment System after Stroke

After someone has suffered a stroke they may walk differently than before.

Whether its due to weakness, balance or movement they may have changes to their gait.

By using a Gait Assessment System you can gather quantitative data about their walk.

You may look at things such as.

• Speed of Walking
• Step Length
• Step Time
• Left Right Differences
• Stance Time
• Swing Time
• Pressure Under the Feet

You could compare how far each foot steps.

Then use that information along with other clinical assessments.

After your patient has gone through their rehab you can test them again.

To see if there were any changes to their measurements.

Just remember to keep your clinical assessment in mind when using this data.

Gait Rehab After Stroke

8. Gait Assessment System for Elderly Patients

As people get older they tend to walk slower and may have less mobility.

So if you are working with elderly patients you may want to gather more data about their walk.

You can look at things such as speed, cadence, step length and symmetry.

You can also assess your patients balance to get more information.

You can then use this data to help with their rehabilitation.

Helping you create a plan to keep them mobile and prevent falls.

Keep in mind that you cannot use a Gait Assessment System to tell if someone will fall.

Always keep your clinical knowledge in mind when assessing your patients.

Balance Rehab for Elderly Patients

Fall Prevention

9. Gait Assessment System for Neurological Patients

There are many neurological conditions that can effect how someone walks.

You may want to gather more information about how they walk.

Depending on what system you are using you can look at.

• Temporal Measurements
• Spatial Measurements
• Pressure Under the Feet
• Symmetry of Movements
• Weight Shift
• Speed of Walking
• Consistency of Steps

You can then use this information to help with your clinical assessment.

As well as your patients rehabilitation.

By using a Gait Assessment System you can create a correlation between your assessment and training.

10. Gait Assessment System vs Visually Looking at Your Patients Walk

As therapists we all look at our patients walk.

There is nothing wrong with visually looking at your patients. But you can only get so much information.

By using a Gait Assessment System you can get more data about your patients walk.

So as you can see there are many benefits to using a Gait Assessment System.

But it should never replace your clinical knowledge.

11. What Are Some Advantages of Using a Gait Assessment System

Here are some benefits that a digital gait assessment system can provide.

Allows for Objective Data

Sensors will provide you with numeric values for certain gait variables.

Allowing your clinician to gain more objective data to go along with their visual evaluation.

Ability to Repeat Assessments

Facility can repeat assessments on their patient using a standard protocol.

Allowing for a better comparison.

Track Progression

Your clinician can compare values before, during and after a rehab program.

Visual Representation

Using graphs and charts to represent data. As well as pressure maps and graph representation.

Individual Training

Can be used by your clinician to focus on certain variables.

Then they can train the patient based on their clinical knowledge.

Allowing for Patient Documentation

Store certain values from your assessment.

Which will allow your clinician to have easier access to past values.

12. What to Consider When Purchasing a Gait Assessment System

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for gait assessment equipment for your facility.

Know What You Want to Assess

What do you want your facility to be able to assess?

If you just need simple gait variables you will need different equipment than if you wanted to analyze more biomechanics of gait.

See What Your System Can Measure

Make sure your system can measure all the variables you need.

Some of which may include.

• Speed

• Step Length

• Stride Length

• Cadence

• Stance Time

• Swing Time

• Symmetry

• Plantar Pressure

Accuracy and Repetability

You will want to know how accurate your measurements are.

Look into what your manufacturer has to offer and see if there is any validation studies.

Patient Populations

What type of patients are you going to be using your equipment on.

Neurological rehab and Sports may require different variables.

Walkway Size

Some walkways may require more floor space then others.

Depends on what type of walkway your purchasing. If your purchasing camera based systems you may need a space to film your patient.

Software

You want your software to be user friendly and give you all the information you need.

You may also want to look into how your software reports data and allows you to store patient information.

User Friendly

If your equipment requires more work to set up this can take away from your patients time.

Calibration of equipment and preparing the patient may be something to look into.

Service

Always look into service and support that your manufacturer offers. Installations, updates and repairs.

13. Gait Assessment and Gait Training

When your facility is able to use gait assessment with gait training. It can be very beneficial.

Assess your patients walking.

Find what they may be having trouble with.

Have them participate in a form of gait training.

• Overground Gait Training

• Body Weight Support

• Treadmill Gait Training

• Balance Rehabilitation

• Robotic Gait Training

• Lower-limb Rehabilitation

Once they have completed their time in a rehabilitation program you can reassess the patient.

So you would assess your patient, train your patient and reassess.

Assess → Train → Reassess

By using gait assessment with your gait training equipment. You are able to get a more in depth look at your patients walking.

If your facility is looking into all forms of rehabilitation. You can find out more about gait assessment equipment and gait training equipment here.

14. Gait Assessment Technology

There are many advancements being made in gait assessment technology.

Portable Sensors

Sensors that can be worn on the body to help assess patients gait. This can help eliminate the need for large labs.

Pressure Sensing

Pressure sensing has become more popular in recent years. With high density sensors we can obtain more information about the foot.

Camera Based Movement Analysis

As mentioned above cameras can be used to analyze movement. There are also advancements being made in using cameras to track movement without the use of markers.

Combining Different Types of Measurements

With new software companies are able to combine many types of measurements into one platform.

In the future we may see more integration with gait training equipment. Allowing your therapist to compare values while training their patient.

Keep in mind that technology should be used to aid your clinicians not take over.

15. Why Jamore Medical?

Jamore Medical sells rehabilitation equipment for Hospitals, Rehab centers and Physical therapy clinics.

We sell many products that will allow your patient to regain mobility.

From Gait Assessment to Gait Training. We have all of your needs covered.

• Overground Gait

• Body Weight Support

• Balance Rehabilitation

• Lower-limb Rehabilitation

• Robotic Rehabilitation

By selling these products together we can allow your facility to create a full package of mobility rehabilitation.

Learn more about the world of rehabilitation by following Sean Rehabilitation on Linkedin.

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

16. FAQ

l What is a Gait Assessment System?

A Gait assessment system allows you to obtain certain information about a human’s gait pattern.

l What can I measure with a Gait Assessment System?

This depends on what system you are looking at. Some will measure speed, cadence, step length, stride length, timing, symmetry and plantar pressure.

l What is gait analysis used for?

Can be used by your clinician to gain more objective data about your patients gait. And help them decide what type of rehab to use.

l Can a Gait Assessment System measure balance?

Some gait assessment systems can measure your patients balance while standing. But there are more pieces of equipment that can measure your patients balance.

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

Gait assessment will allow you to measure certain aspects of gait. While gait training will help your patient practice those aspects of gait.

l Can I use Gait Assessment on my Stroke patient?

Yes you can obtain certain information about your stroke patients gait. Keep in mind this is only some information about their gait.

l What can I use to measure plantar pressure?

You can use a pressure platform or walkway. Or even in shoe sensors.

l How do I pick a Gait Assessment System?

Know what your looking to assess, patient populations, how accurate it is and software.

17. Conclusion

A Gait Assessment System can give you objective data about your patients gait.

Depending on your technology you can measure many different things about your patients gait.

This will allow your clinician to get more data about your patients walking pattern.

But most importantly it can be used to train your patients.

You can assess your patient and begin to train them on what they are struggling with.

Giving your facility a whole package of gait assessment and rehabilitation.

At Jamore Medical we provide products that can be used with Gait Assessment to help train your patient.