Gait Abnormalities – Do You Need a Gait Analysis?

With warm weather finally arrived, it’s the perfect time to walk, run or hike.  When you do these activities, your legs, ankles and feet move in a habitual rhythm of motion, which is called your gait.  Did you know that your gait can tell you a lot about pain you might experience in your feet and ankles?  Take a look at the bottom of your running shoes.  Where is the wear and tear?

The foot normally flattens when it hits the ground and rolls slightly to the inside.  If your foot flattens too much, or rolls too much or not enough, anything from your toes to your spine can be affected. When we perform a gait analysis, we frequently see pronation and supination abnormalities.

Overpronation is the excessive roll inward after landing; it continues to roll after pushing off.  Overpronation can cause foot, shin and knee pain, as well as muscle tightness.  The bottom of your shoe may show wear on the inside arch.  Many people with flat feet are over-pronators.  Wearing shoes with multi-density midsoles and corrective custom orthotics can help correct this gait abnormality.

Supination is defined as the insufficient inward roll of the foot when landing.  People who do this have extra stress on the foot and can have conditions such as iliotibial band syndrome of the knees, tendonitis of the Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis.  Your shoes may show wear on the outside edge of the sole.  This gait abnormality may be due to an overly high arch.  Wearing shoes to allow for more foot motion and flexibility on the inner side of the shoe are recommended, as well as a custom orthotic.

Having your gait analyzed is the first step in preventing injury.  We’re your family foot care specialists!  Click here to request an appointment for your gait analysis!

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