Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford Gait Laboratory

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Appropriate patients

General requirements

To benefit from a gait analysis, patients must be able to walk a minimum distance of approximately 30 metres (with or without walking aids).

They should also be able to walk in a relatively straight line, and be able to co-operate with instructions.

Children should be at least four years old with a consistent walking pattern.

Types of patients typically seen in the gait laboratory

Cerebral Palsy

  • Baseline assessment (normally not before age 4-5 years)
  • Follow-up assessments to monitor changes in gait during growth
  • If deterioration in gait is suspected
  • Pre-operative assessment
  • Post-operative assessment at 6, 12 and 24 months post surgery
  • Questions related to management with orthoses, botulinum toxin

Clubfoot, Idiopathic Toe Walkers and other foot deformity

  • When considering surgical treatment
  • If symptomatic, to determine the source of pain, etc.

Lower limb anatomical deviations

  • To test for abnormal loading (moments) in lower limb joints
  • To determine source of in-toeing / out-toeing
  • To monitor progression over time

Neurological conditions

  • When considering intervention, eg botulinum toxin injections or other spasticity management

This list is indicative, but not comprehensive of all patients that may benefit from gait analysis.

Please contact us if you have any questions about whether or not your patient may be appropriate to refer.