why do a gait cycle analysis?
Key Takeaways
Our gait cycle is at the core of all our movement, and analysing our walking/running can give us accurate insights into our dysfunction and pain. Research on the field has established a strong link between the quality of our gait and our overall longevity.
Introduction: The FP Big 4
Functional Patterns is a robust problem solving system which is built upon reliable and proven first principles. In this article we’ll focus on what FP identified as the big 4, standing, walking, running and throwing. Every dysfunction we can possibly have will somehow affect at least one of the above pillars. By the same token, all exercises taught to us by FP are aimed to correct and improve our aforementioned big 4. In this article we’ll look specifically at introducing the gait cycle and what it means for our walking and running.
The Gait Cycle
The gait cycle refers to the sequence of events, the series of smaller movements if you will, that propel us forwards and enable us to move through space by either walking, running or sprinting. Experts in the field identified 2 major phases in our cycle, stance and swing, which are then further subdivided in Initial Contact, Mid Stance, Toe Off, Mid Swing and so forth. If you’d like to read more on the technicalities then please follow this link here.
You might be thinking, “well that’s a lot of technical language, walking and running aren’t exactly hard”... If this is the case, why is it that so many people seem to constantly experience both minor and major injuries from something that is widely considered simple and accessible? Furthermore why is it that as we age such fundamental functions such as standing up straight, walking and running become increasingly harder? One might brush it off and inadvertently vulgarise it as “normal” or “hey it’s part of ageing, relax”. We at FP say that we’re performing our most fundamental movements wrong and are unintentionally ruining our bodies by doing so.
Luckily for us we’re not the only ones believing this to be the case and an increasing body of literature is providing us with very interesting data. In this 2019 study from New Zealand, which took place over a period of time of 45 years (that’s a very important qualitative detail), they observed the selected population’s gait cycle under different conditions. In their findings they share the following:
“In this 5-decade cohort study of 904 participants in New Zealand, physical and biological indicators of accelerated ageing, including compromised brain integrity (eg, reduced brain volume and cortical thickness), were associated with slow gait measured at age 45 years. Lifelong compromised brain health—including poor neurocognitive functioning as early as age 3 years and childhood-to adulthood decline in cognitive functioning—was associated with slower gait at midlife.”
In simple terms, this means the slower somebody was walking at age 45, the more age-related decay was displayed on multiple measurements. This sort of correlation is very difficult to achieve in this realm as studies are rarely performed over such long periods of time. If we were to step away from the technicalities of research and think about people we all know, all middle aged and above, what characteristics do we attribute to those whom we think “feel young” or “don’t show their age”? Specifically, how do they move?
Training in relation to gait
You might now be thinking “ok we get it, walking and running are pretty important, I’ll just walk and run more and pick up my pace”... If only the answer was that simple, getting out of pain would be so easy. Unfortunately the answer is more complicated, but luckily Naudi and FP have begun laying the blueprint for us all.
FP exercises are designed to account for and enhance the gait cycle. The more advanced the individual’s movement is the more variables will be added to the exercise and vice versa. Where, in my opinion, FP really excels above all other training systems currently available out there, is its ability to account for people’s individual dysfunctions.
Our understanding of human biomechanics are starting to be codified and greatly understood, we’re finally reaching the point of scientific objectivity. With such ideals in mind, FP teaches how to scan for individual dysfunctions, and mind you there are countless of them. A shifting pelvis, a laterally flexed spine, muscular inhibition, scapular dyskinesis and that’s barely scratching the surface. An individual can have quite a few of these dysfunctions and experiences a variety of pains. This is where the gait cycle analysis comes into play. It is amazing just how many details we can uncover in regards to somebody’s dysfunctions simply by having them walk, run or sprint.
Barring exceptional circumstances where an individual may experience particularly advanced pain whilst simply standing, a gait cycle analysis is a rather quick affair. Today’s phone cameras offer HD slow motion functions at the tip of our fingers. We get you running on the treadmill, film you, then we spend some time observing the videos. Depending on what your gait cycle shows, we start our first releases and corrective exercises immediately after that.
As we progress your training, pain recedes, coordination improves, strength returns and overall movement improves, we test your gait cycle again and compare! You’d be surprised how much your given, fundamental functions can improve without you even having to think about walking or running in a different way!
Conclusion
Walking and running are fundamental aspects of our anatomy that are often overlooked. Our biomechanics might very well be the key to our longevity.
You can book your gait cycle analysis now and start training yourself, get in touch to find out more!
