Have you ever noticed that you’re slightly off-balance when running? Or perhaps the pain you’ve been living with forces you to shift your position when standing? Are you walking at the same speed you did when you were younger or have you slowed down? 

Back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain and sciatic pain can all be signs that there is a persistent movement issue in your lower body. Pain is a highly sophisticated feedback system and it can tell you a lot about the way you are moving. 

The way we walk, run, and stand can tell us a lot about the state of our muscles, bones, and even brains. And when we notice a shift in our body’s ability to do simple, balanced, painless movements, it can signify creeping instability and weakness. If you have experienced this or some stubborn pain, you may want to find the source of your imbalance and figure out what you can do about it. 

That’s the moment when many of us are introduced to the word “Gait”.

Gait refers to the movement style we use to walk or run. Healthcare professionals practice ‘gait analysis’ to assess patients movement pattern and determine a potential gait insufficiency and its root cause. 

Many studies have confirmed that gait impairment is prominent in the elderly. (1) However, recent studies have found that it can also impact younger adults too. Shockingly, issues with gait have also been connected to a myriad of health conditions that influence ageing and morbidity. But the good news is that gait can be rehabilitated.