Gait assessment for children and adults
The way you walk or run says a great deal about how your feet, joints and muscles are working together.
At Aligna Podiatry, we offer detailed gait assessments for both children and adults, helping to identify the underlying causes of pain, discomfort or unusual movement patterns.
What is a gait assessment?
A gait assessment involves carefully observing and analysing how you walk or run. We look at factors such as foot position, joint movement, posture and muscle activity throughout each step. This information helps our podiatrists understand what is happening beneath the surface of everyday complaints like pain or fatigue, rather than simply treating symptoms as they appear.
Gait assessments for adults
For adults, a gait assessment can provide valuable insight into a wide range of ongoing issues. It can help explain chronic heel, knee or lower back pain that has not responded to other treatments and shed light on sports injuries that keep recurring despite rest and rehabilitation.
Many adults have also come to us with flat feet or high arches which cause discomfort during standing or walking. A gait assessment helps determine how much these foot types are contributing to their symptoms.
For patients considering custom orthotics, a thorough gait assessment forms an essential part of the planning process, ensuring any orthotics prescribed are tailored to your specific movement pattern.
Gait assessments for children
Early assessment matters greatly when it comes to children’s foot and leg development.
We commonly assess children showing in toeing or out toeing gait patterns, where the feet point inward or outward more than expected during walking. Toe walking is another common concern we assess, particularly when it persists beyond the toddler years.
We also see children experiencing growing pains or Severs disease which is a common cause of heel pain in active, growing children. Additionally, we assess children who seem unusually clumsy or who tire quickly when walking or running compared to their peers, as this can sometimes point to an underlying gait or muscular issue worth addressing.
Why choose Aligna Podiatry?
Our podiatrists take a genuinely thorough approach to gait assessment, combining hands on clinical examination with careful observation of movement.
We take the time to explain our findings clearly, whether you are an adult seeking answers for long standing pain or a parent concerned about your child’s development. Where appropriate, we combine gait assessment findings with other treatments offered at our clinic, such as foot mobilisation therapy or custom orthotics. This builds a comprehensive plan suited to your needs.
- During your assessment, we will discuss your history and any symptoms you have noticed, followed by an observation of your walking or running pattern.
- Depending on your circumstances, this may include reviewing your footwear and simple functional tests to understand your movement.
- We then talk through our findings and recommend a clear path forward, whether that involves further treatment, monitoring or orthotic therapy.
Book your gait assessment in Balwyn North