Walking is something most of us do every day without giving it a second thought. However, gait — the pattern of movement we use when walking or running — involves a complex interaction between the feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis and spine. When one part of this system is not functioning optimally, it can influence movement elsewhere in the body.
Biomechanical gait analysis is a valuable tool for understanding how your body moves, identifying potential contributing factors to pain and helping to guide an individualised treatment plan.
In this blog, we explore what gait analysis involves, how it can help with common musculoskeletal problems and what you can expect from an assessment.
What is biomechanical gait analysis?
Biomechanical gait analysis is the assessment of how your body moves during walking or running. It looks at the interaction between your joints, muscles and the ground to identify movement patterns that may be contributing to pain, reduced function or an increased load on particular tissues.
Depending on the assessment, this may include:
Foot posture and function: Assessing foot movement, arch behaviour, pronation and supination throughout the walking cycle.
Ankle mechanics: Evaluating ankle mobility, push-off strength and how the foot progresses over the ground.
Knee movement: Examining knee alignment, control and how the knee responds to loading.
Hip and pelvic control: Assessing hip movement, pelvic stability and the contribution of the gluteal muscles.
Walking and running patterns: Observing stride length, step width, cadence, symmetry and overall movement efficiency.
Muscle strength and joint mobility: Identifying physical limitations that may influence the way you walk or run.
Some clinics also use video analysis, pressure platforms or instrumented treadmills to provide additional information about movement and loading.
Importantly, gait analysis should not be viewed in isolation. A thorough assessment also considers your symptoms, medical history, activity levels, footwear, training habits, strength and joint mobility.
How can gait analysis help with foot pain?
Foot pain is a common reason people seek biomechanical assessment. Conditions such as plantar heel pain, Achilles tendinopathy, forefoot pain and recurrent ankle problems can sometimes be influenced by the way the foot and lower limb manage load.
Plantar heel pain and plantar fasciopathy
Plantar heel pain often causes discomfort around the heel, particularly during the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest.
Gait analysis can assess how the foot behaves during weight-bearing, including the timing and extent of pronation, the progression of the body's weight over the foot and the mechanics of push-off.
The assessment may identify factors such as restricted ankle dorsiflexion, reduced calf capacity or a walking pattern that increases demand on the plantar fascia.
Treatment may include calf and foot strengthening, mobility exercises, load management and, where appropriate, footwear changes or orthoses.
Achilles tendinopathy
The Achilles tendon experiences substantial forces during walking, running and jumping. If the tendon is repeatedly exposed to more load than it can tolerate, symptoms may develop.
Gait analysis can help assess push-off mechanics, ankle movement, stride characteristics and differences between the affected and unaffected sides.
These findings can help guide a rehabilitation programme that progressively rebuilds calf strength and tendon capacity. It is important to remember that changing gait alone is rarely sufficient; progressive strengthening and appropriate load management are central to treatment.
Forefoot pain and recurrent ankle problems
Excessive pressure beneath the forefoot, limited ankle movement or difficulties controlling the foot during stance may contribute to symptoms in some individuals.
Gait analysis can help identify potentially relevant movement patterns and determine whether further assessment of footwear, foot strength, balance or joint mobility is needed.
The key benefit is understanding how your foot functions under load, rather than simply looking at its shape when you are standing still.