Gait Training

It's all in the walk

The way a person walks, or their “gait,” is as much a part of their individual identity as their fingerprint. Whether they saunter, stroll, or strut, their walk can say a lot about their personality, as well as their health.

Gait training is an important component of many physical therapy plans, and uses a combination of strength training, functional training, and balance exercises to train a patient to move on their feet safely and efficiently. Gait training is a wide-ranging treatment that can help patients in many areas, including those recovering from leg and pelvis injuries, spinal cord injuries, joint ailments and replacements, strokes and neurological disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Even if an injury does not directly appear to impact a patient’s ability to walk, it’s common for the body to adapt to an injury in such a way that causes a person’s gait to change. Although the change may be slight, the body’s new walking motions may be compounded over time and lead to larger mobility issues down the line. This is the circular nature of gait changes and their impact on the body; an injury can cause changes in gait, and changes in gait can cause further injury. This can lead to a quick onset of joint and muscular problems, all caused by improper walking mechanics.

At Synergy Physical Therapy, our therapists work with a patient’s unique situation to develop a gait training plan that will get them on their feet in the safest and most efficient way possible.

Don’t wait until an injury

Along with recovery from an injury, gait training can be an important tool for those who would like to preemptively address their unique mobility issues in order to prevent injury in the future. This may include athletes who would like to fine-tune their running mechanics to become more efficient and less likely to succumb to pain or injury caused by their gait, as well as seniors who
have started to feel a little less steady on their feet.

With falls being the leading cause of fatal injury among older adults, it’s especially important that seniors maintain proper walking balance and mechanics as they age. Synergy therapists can work with older patients to evaluate their current gait, and create a specialized treatment plan to address strength, flexibility, and posture issues that may lead to mobility problems.