Gait Analysis
The systematic study of human locomotion using observational or instrumented methods to quantify walking patterns and inform orthotic prescription and intervention planning.
Full Definition
Gait analysis in orthotics is the clinical and biomechanical assessment of a patient's walking pattern, encompassing temporal-spatial parameters (cadence, stride length, velocity), kinematics (joint angles and motion), kinetics (forces and moments), and electromyography (muscle activation timing). Results directly inform orthotic design, alignment, and material selection. Editors working with gait analysis reports must be familiar with discipline-specific terminology such as 'stance phase,' 'swing phase,' 'loading response,' 'terminal stance,' and 'pre-swing,' and should not substitute lay equivalents in formal documents. Instrumented gait analysis (IGA) conducted in a motion capture laboratory is distinct from clinical/observational gait analysis, which relies on visual inspection; documents should specify which method was used. Editing errors that conflate these two levels of analysis can misrepresent the strength of evidence underlying a clinical recommendation.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the method of analysis (observational vs. instrumented). Do not edit 'stance phase' or 'swing phase' to lay terms such as 'standing' or 'walking' in formal clinical documents.
In Context
- "Gait analysis confirmed significant asymmetry in stance-phase duration, supporting the prescription of a ground-reaction AFO on the affected side." — Orthotics assessment report
- "The report must specify whether the gait analysis was observational or instrumented, as the two carry different levels of clinical evidence." — Editorial review note