Being able to move efficiently is important in avoiding injuries. Having
joints capable of providing sufficient movement and muscles capable of producing
sufficient force is vital to generate an efficient gait cycle. If joints are
stiff (usually caused by muscle tightness), limiting range of motion, or muscles
are weak, the body must find ways of compensating for the problem, leading to
biomechanical abnormalities.
Examples of biomechanical abnormalities include:
Biomechanical problems such as these are usually caused by muscular
imbalances (tight muscles working against weak muscles), although they can
sometimes be caused by structural problems, such as leg length discrepancies
resulting in hip hiking.
What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis usually involves walking or running on a treadmill. In some
cases the professional will simply watch the way that you move, looking in
particular at your feet, ankles, knees and hips. In more specialist settings, a
video recorder will often be set-up behind the treadmill, which will record film
of your gait cycle. This can then be relayed to a laptop where slow motion and
freeze frames can be used to carefully assess your running or walking style.
This form of gait analysis usually focuses on the feet and ankles.
Many injuries are often caused, at least in part, by poor biomechanics. Runners and athletes whose
sports require a high level of running and jumping should make sure they have
had a gait analysis and buy the correct
footwear to avoid future overuse injuries. The following are a list of
common overuse injuries associated with poor gait biomechanics:
One way that you can get an idea for yourself whether you pronate, supinate
or have a neutral foot strike is to look at the wear of your trainers or shoes.
These must be shoes which you worn a lot so that there is a pattern of wear on
the sole.
The Gait cycle in walking and running
The gait cycle is the continuous repetitive pattern of walking or running.
The gait cycle is split into two main phases, stance and swing, with one
complete gait cycle including both a stance and swing phase.
The stance phase is the period where the foot is in contact with the ground
and equates to 60% of the cycle when walking. The swing phases makes up the
remaining 40%. During walking there is a period called double stance, where both
feet are in contact with the ground. The swing and stance phases can be further
divided into:
Stance
- Heel strike - The point when the heel hits the floor
- Foot flat - The point where the whole of the foot comes into contact with
the floor
- Mid stance - Where we are transferring weight from the back, to the front of
our feet
- Toe off - Pushing off with the toes to propel us forwards
Swing
- Acceleration - The period from toe off to maximum knee flexion in order for
the foot to clear the ground
- Mid-swing - The period between maximum knee flexion and the forward movement
of the tibia (shin bone) to a vertical position
- Deceleration - The end of the swing phase before heel strike
When running, a higher proportion of the cycle is swing phase as the foot is
in contact with the ground for a shorter period. Because of this there is now no
double stance phase, and instead there is a point where neither feet are in
contact with the ground, this is called the flight phase. As running speed
increases, stance phase becomes shorter and shorter.
Corrections to your Gait Cycle
If it is found that there is an abnormality of your gait cycle. This can
usually be correct with a change in footwear, the use of orthotics or an
exercise programme.
Running shoes usually cater for those who either overpronate, oversupinate or
have a neutral position. It is important to make sure you have the right running
shoes for your style of running. |
