Study of gait

The biomechanical study of gait is a diagnostic method that helps us study the static and dynamic behavior of the foot and the relationship with segments of the human body. The study provides us with values for the prevention, correction, diagnosis and treatment of the different pathologies as a consequence of the biomechanics of each individual, their relationship with daily life and their level of physical activity. It is an innovative solution that helps to prevent and treat injuries. The results obtained, combined with the experience and training of our professionals, come together in a unique treatment for each person.

In everyday life as well as in sports, ensuring optimal support is essential; pressure distribution over the entire surface of the foot and support of the physiological arches improve stability and increase comfort.

A precise biomechanical study of the gait helps us in the selection of supports in order to achieve a correct alignment of the physiological axes and benefit the large joints: ankle, knee and hip, relieving overloaded muscle groups.

Human walking is a process of locomotion in which the human body, generally in an upright position, moves forward, its weight being supported alternately by both lower limbs. It is characterized at the same time that it is distinguished from the race by the permanent contact of the individual with the ground through at least one of his feet.

In spite of the individual character of this process, which during the first years of childhood is learned, the similarities between different subjects are such that one can speak of a characteristic pattern of normal human walking.

In the study of walking it is unanimous the idea that it is constituted, thickly, by four phases, times or, as other authors prefer to call them, moments. It could be added that the study is normally started from the position in which the two lower limbs are separated as branches of a compass, one forward and one backward.

The development of the gait cycle is marked by a series of events that make it possible to make a finer subdivision of it, providing its description. Under normal conditions, the following successive events occur for each of the feet:

The gait cycle is divided into two main phases:

      1.  THE STAY OR SUPPORT PHASE: which has 3 subdivisions

• First double support: when both feet are in contact with the ground.

• First unilateral support:when the left foot is in swing and the right foot is in contact with the ground.

• Second double support: when both feet are again resting on the ground.

   2.  THE SWINGING PHASE
  

This pattern of normal walking is modified in everyday life by many and varied causes, bearing in mind that not all of them have to be properly pathological such as size, age, footwear, terrain, load, activity of the person, etc..

On the other hand, we find that there are many conditions of different origin (structural, osteoarticular, myopathic, neuropathic, etc.) that lead to an alteration of some part of the cycle or the complete cycle of walking, being our job to rebuild it again.