Gait analysis is a specialized assessment that examines how you walk or run to identify subtle inefficiencies or imbalances in your movement patterns. It evaluates everything from foot strike and stride length to hip motion and spinal alignment — offering insights that often go unnoticed in a routine physical exam.
These movement patterns play a crucial role in how stress is distributed across your joints and muscles. When something is even slightly off, it can lead to overuse injuries, chronic pain, and reduced performance. Gait analysis helps uncover the root cause of these issues before they escalate into more serious problems.
At EmpowerU in Ocean Pines, gait analysis is a proactive tool we use to keep our patients pain-free, efficient, and strong — whether they're recovering from injury or working toward better movement.
Many people live with gait abnormalities without even realizing it. These subtle imbalances often develop over time due to habits, past injuries, or muscular weaknesses — and while they may not be immediately painful, they quietly increase your risk of future problems.
Some of the most common gait issues include overpronation (excessive inward foot roll), asymmetrical stride patterns, limited hip or ankle mobility, and muscle compensation patterns where one part of the body overworks to make up for another. These dysfunctions can lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, or chronic knee and back pain.
Because these imbalances are often hidden in plain sight, they require a trained eye — and the right tools — to identify. That’s where a professional gait analysis can make a significant difference in both injury prevention and long-term movement health.
At EmpowerU, our gait analysis process is designed to be both comprehensive and approachable. Whether you’re a runner, recovering from an injury, or simply looking to move more efficiently, we tailor the assessment to your goals and concerns.
During your session, one of our physical therapists will observe your walking or running on a treadmill or flat surface, capturing video and analyzing joint motion from head to toe. We use clinical expertise and observational tools to evaluate posture, stride length, joint alignment, and muscle activation patterns.
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The goal isn’t just to identify what’s wrong — it’s to understand why it’s happening. Once we identify any irregularities, we provide a customized plan that may include mobility drills, strengthening exercises, footwear guidance, or hands-on therapy.
Our Ocean Pines clinic is equipped to not only pinpoint the small issues that contribute to big problems — but to address them effectively.
One of the most powerful aspects of gait analysis is how small changes can lead to major improvements. Sometimes, correcting a slight inward knee collapse or adjusting how the foot strikes the ground can dramatically reduce pain and improve efficiency.
At EmpowerU, we've seen athletes return to running pain-free by modifying their stride mechanics. Others have resolved long-standing hip or back pain by strengthening underused muscles identified during gait analysis. These adjustments don’t always require complex interventions — often, it’s a matter of fine-tuning technique and building better movement habits.
What makes these results possible is a clear understanding of each person’s unique movement pattern. By focusing on individualized corrections, we help patients achieve greater comfort, reduce injury risk, and move with renewed confidence.
You don’t have to be a competitive athlete to benefit from gait analysis. In fact, many of our patients come in simply because they’re dealing with recurring pain, nagging injuries, or a sense that something in their movement just “feels off.”
Some key signs it’s time to schedule a gait assessment include frequent joint or muscle pain during activity, a history of overuse injuries, or noticeable asymmetry when walking or running. It’s also a valuable tool if you’re starting a new fitness routine or recovering from surgery.
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At EmpowerU in Ocean Pines, gait analysis is often the first step in a more holistic physical therapy plan. It allows us to design targeted interventions that support healing, improve performance, and keep your movement efficient and pain-free for the long term.