Gait analysis

How it works

Oxford Gait Laboratory is equipped with 16 motion-capture cameras, force plates and other state-of-the-art equipment.

Preparing for gait analysis, we stick small, reflective spheres to the lower body (and sometimes the upper body as well), which allows the cameras to record the way a person walks.

From this we can determine:

• movement pattern of legs and feet
• forces acting at the joints
• activity of the muscles during walking
• loading of the feet during walking.

This allows us to:

• accurately measure abnormalities in walking patterns
• help determine the cause of abnormalities during walking
• provide information to assist clinical decisions about treatment, such as surgery, therapy and orthotics
• evaluate the outcome of treatment, in order to maximise results.