An Introduction to Gait Analysis

Gait analysis is the systematic study of human walking. Most of the literature in this field is highly specialized and very technical. This book, however, aims to brings gait analysis out of the 'ivory tower' of the research laboratory, and to put it where it belongs, in the 'real world' of the clinic. The author has maintained the clear and approachable style that established the first three editions.

• Highly readable, the book builds upon the basics of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.
• Describes both normal and pathological gait.
• Covers the range of methods available to perform gait analysis, from the very simple to the very complex.
• Emphasizes the clinical applications of gait analysis.

• Fully updated throughout
• New chapter on the use of gait analysis in the management of cerebral palsy
• Includes a CD-Rom, containing video clips and animated skeletons of normal gait and 3 subjects with cerebral palsy

Now onto its fourth edition this text aims to cover the gait cycle down to a tee. It starts you off on the basics and gradually progresses in more depth.

The subject of gait analysis is approached from a biomechanical point of view with a lot of joint angle analysis, levers and moments and quite a bit on the equipment used to analyse gait. At points you begin to feel like you are looking at a robot and you have to remind yourself that this is human gait analysis.

There does not seem to be much coverage of observational gait analysis which is one fundamental part of physiotherapy practice.

While this is generally a good book for gait analysis, for us, as physiotherapists, to benefit from it we may need to spend some time interpreting the text and applying it from a slightly different perspective.

- Steve Canning, In Touch, Spring 2008, No. 122.