How can gait analysis help with knee pain?
The knee sits between the foot and the hip, meaning its movement is influenced by both joints. However, knee pain is multifactorial, and not every problem can be explained by lower-limb alignment.
Patellofemoral pain (pain around the kneecap)
Patellofemoral pain commonly causes discomfort around or behind the kneecap, particularly when walking downstairs, squatting, running or climbing hills.
A biomechanical assessment may examine:
Hip and pelvic control during single-leg loading.
Knee movement and control during walking, running or step-down tasks.
Foot and ankle mechanics.
Quadriceps and hip muscle strength.
Training volume, recovery and other factors affecting knee loading.
For some people, the assessment may reveal movement patterns that can be addressed through strengthening, movement retraining or adjustments to running technique.
For example, improving hip and knee control during a single-leg task may be useful where poor control is relevant to the individual's symptoms. However, there is no single ideal knee position that suits everyone, and treatment should be guided by the clinical findings.
Knee osteoarthritis
People with knee osteoarthritis may experience pain, stiffness and difficulty walking longer distances.
Gait analysis can assess walking speed, step length, knee movement and asymmetries that may develop because of pain or reduced confidence.
In selected cases, a clinician may identify a walking pattern that changes the load experienced by the knee. This information can help guide exercise therapy, walking strategies, walking aids or other appropriate interventions.
The aim is not necessarily to create a perfectly symmetrical walking pattern. It is to improve comfort, function and confidence while helping the person remain active.
Iliotibial band-related pain and running injuries
Lateral knee pain in runners can be associated with training errors, tissue sensitivity and individual biomechanical factors.
Gait analysis may help assess running cadence, stride characteristics and hip control, alongside training history and strength.
Where appropriate, modifying running technique or training load may help reduce symptom-provoking demands.