MOVAN Services

Clinical Gait Analysis

What is Clinical Gait Analysis?

Clinical gait analysis uses 3D motion capture, force plates, and electromyography (EMG) to measure movements and muscle activity. This information tells us how you walk and what may be causing mobility issues. In addition, these data play an essential role in helping your doctor better understand your specific needs to improve your movement and quality of life.

Preparing for Your Visit

What to Bring

Children and adults with orthopedic, muscular, and neurological conditions that affect their walking and quality of life can often benefit from clinical gait analysis. Conditions we commonly perform clinical gait analysis for include:

• Loose-fitting shorts with an elastic waistband, girls should also bring tank tops.
• Braces and walking aids (such as crutches, walkers, and canes) if you use them.
• Shoes for walking with and without braces.
• Familiar toys and books to make the experience more relaxing and give yourself something to do during downtime between tests!

Arrival at Your Appointment

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment. The main lobby of our building is located on the east side of the UNO Biomechanics Research Building, closest to the Health and Kinesiology Building. Parking is located outside of our main lobby with dedicated spots for individuals coming in for gait analyses. Our team will meet you in the lobby and give you a parking pass to put on your windshield. From there, we have changing rooms for participants to get ready and comfy chairs for guests to relax in while we start our assessment.

Our Team

Members of the Department of Biomechanics at UNO specialize in gait and motion analysis and are dedicated to working with your doctor to develop a care plan that addresses your specific needs. Our team is comprised of doctors, physical therapists, researchers, engineers, and lab technicians specifically trained to make your experience as easy and comfortable as possible.

Who Benefits from Clinical Gait Analysis?

Children and adults with orthopedic, muscular, and neurological conditions that affect their walking and quality of life can often benefit from clinical gait analysis. Conditions we commonly perform clinical gait analysis for include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Spina bifida
• Misaligned bones and foot abnormalities
• Amputations
• Limb-length discrepancies
• Brain injury and other neurological traumas
• Complex movement disorders

What to Expect

A visit can vary in length, but approximately 2.5 hours is needed to complete all assessments. These can include:

Physical Exam

These generally occur before the clinical gait analysis by licensed and registered physiotherapists in a clinical setting (like Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha). Our team will measure your strength, range of motion, and motor control. These measurements help us analyze data collected during your visit and become part of your medical record. In addition, much of the information gathered here is needed to develop appropriate rehabilitation plans.

Digital Video

The first thing we do is start with a video of your typical walking. This can be performed barefoot or with shoes and braces on. We will record video from two cameras at the same time. Video of your walking helps us see how you move with no other devices before fatigue could be a factor.

Plantar Pressure

We will ask you to stand still and walk on our pressure-sensing treadmill. It looks and feels like a regular treadmill, but it can measure pressure points under your feet!

3D Motion Capture

Our team will place reflective markers and sensors over specific bones and muscles on your body. The reflective markers are used so that the cameras in our gait lab can record your movement while you walk. The sensors record how active your muscles are. The floor in our gait lab also has special force plates to record how hard you push on the ground when you walk across them.

Oxygen Consumption Test

One of the measurements we are interested in is how much energy you use when you walk. To measure this, we record how much oxygen your body uses through a special mask attached to a machine. During a six-minute walk, you wear the machine like a backpack and are off to the races! The mask covers your nose and mouth to measure the oxygen you breathe in and out. However, this machine does not make breathing any more difficult.