What Happens During a Gait Analysis at a Podiatrist?
The way you walk tells a story about your feet. When a podiatrist asks you to walk down the hallway, take off your shoes or stand on one leg, they’re doing a gait analysis: looking at how your feet, ankles, knees and hips move together with every step. Here’s what to expect, what we look for and how the results shape your care.
What is gait analysis?
“Gait” simply means the way you walk or run. A gait analysis is an evaluation of that motion. In a podiatry office, it’s part of a hands-on exam to find out why your feet, ankles or legs hurt. Large motion labs can go much further: the Hospital for Special Surgery describes running gait assessments that combine posture checks, strength and balance tests, and video recorded from several angles.
Why a podiatrist looks at how you walk
Many foot problems are mechanical. If your foot rolls inward too much (overpronation), stays too rigid, or lands hard on the heel, certain tissues take more strain than they should. Over time that strain can show up as:
- Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
- Arch pain and tired, achy feet
- Shin, knee or hip pain linked to foot motion
- Calluses and pressure spots
- Repeat ankle sprains and other sports injuries
Watching you move helps separate the cause from the symptom, so treatment fixes the problem instead of just quieting the pain.
What happens during the exam
A gait evaluation at Opensky Podiatry is part of a regular office visit and usually includes:
- A conversation first. Where it hurts, when it started, your activities and the shoes you wear most.
- A standing exam. How your arches, heels and toes line up when you’re bearing weight.
- Watching you walk barefoot and, often, in your usual shoes.
- Simple movement tests such as heel raises, single-leg balance or squats, to check strength and flexibility.
- A look at your shoes. The wear pattern on an old pair says a lot about how you land and push off.
Wear or bring comfortable clothes and the shoes you use most, including running shoes if you’re a runner. The exam doesn’t hurt.
What we look for
- How your heel strikes the ground and how your foot rolls through each step
- Whether your arch collapses or stays high and rigid
- How your big toe and ankle bend as you push off
- Differences between your left and right sides
- Tight calves or limited ankle motion that change how you walk
How the results guide treatment
The point of a gait analysis is a better plan. Depending on what we find, that might mean:
- Custom orthotics built to control the motion causing your pain
- Sports orthotics for runners and athletes
- Shoe recommendations that match your foot type
- Targeted stretching and strengthening
- Imaging, such as X-ray or ultrasound, if an injury needs a closer look
Wondering whether you need custom orthotics or a store-bought insert would do? Read custom orthotics vs. store-bought inserts.
Common questions
Do I need a gait analysis if I’m not a runner?
Yes, it can help anyone with ongoing foot, ankle, knee or hip pain. Walking problems cause just as much trouble as running ones.
How long does it take?
In a podiatry office, the gait portion is usually a few minutes within a regular visit. Full lab studies take much longer and are used for complex cases.
Can a running store’s gait test replace a podiatry exam?
A store test can help you pick shoes, but it isn’t a medical exam. If you have pain, see a podiatrist who can diagnose the cause.
The bottom line
A gait analysis is one of the simplest and most useful parts of a foot exam. If pain keeps coming back no matter which shoes you try, a podiatrist can watch how you move, find the cause and build a plan around it. Dr. Opensky sees patients in Skokie, IL and Whiting, IN.
Sources
- Gait Analysis for Runners: What to Expect and How It Can Help. Hospital for Special Surgery. hss.edu
- Orthotics: Definition, Risks, Benefits, Types & Tips. Cleveland Clinic. my.clevelandclinic.org
- Prescription Custom Orthotics and Shoe Inserts. American Podiatric Medical Association. apma.org
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you have foot or ankle pain that isn’t getting better, or you have diabetes or poor circulation, see a podiatrist or your doctor.