When patients come to clinic with foot and ankle pain, one of the most useful tools we use to get to the root of the problem is gait analysis.
It’s more than just watching someone walk up and down a corridor; gait analysis is a structured clinical assessment that helps us understand how forces move through the foot and leg during walking or running. Subtle biomechanical changes in how a person walks or runs can contribute to a wide range of injuries, both acute and chronic.
Gait analysis is the systematic study of human motion, focusing on the way weight is transferred through the foot and how the lower limbs respond to this movement. It can be done visually in clinic, or using high-tech video, pressure plates, or force-measuring treadmills for more complex cases or high-performance athletes.
We look at:
It’s not just about the feet. The foot’s movement affects, and is affected by, the mechanics of the entire lower limb and pelvis. A small abnormality at the ankle can manifest as pain in the shin, knee, or even lower back.
Different foot shapes and walking patterns predispose individuals to certain problems. Here are a few common ones we see regularly in clinic:
Flat feet tend to overpronate - rolling inwards excessively during walking or running.
This can cause:
Overstretching of the plantar fascia due to repeated collapse of the arch
A condition that causes discomfort on the underside of the foot, particularly in the heel and arch area. It results from inflammation of the plantar fascia - a thick, fibrous band of tissue that stretches from the heel bone to the toes along the sole of the foot.
Overuse of the tendon that supports the arch of the foot.
A condition in which the posterior tibial tendon - responsible for supporting the foot’s arch, becomes weakened or injured, resulting in a collapsed arch. This is often referred to as adult-acquired flatfoot. Overuse of the tendon that supports the arch of the foot.
Stress on the medial tibial area due to altered alignment
Medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS); it refers to pain along the inner edge of the shinbone (tibia), typically caused by inflammation of the surrounding muscles, tendons, and bone tissue, due to overuse or repetitive stress.
In contrast, a high-arched foot tends to under pronate or remain rigid during gait. This poor shock absorption leads to:
Such as metatarsalgia or stress fractures
High arches often correlate with a supinated foot that lacks lateral support, leading to recurrent sprains.
The tight arch places excessive strain on the plantar fascia.
These patients may report foot pain after impact activities like prolonged walking, hiking or running, and often wear patterns on their shoes show more lateral (outer) wear.
Some runners (often long-distance or minimalist runners) make initial contact with the forefoot rather than the heel. While this can work well for some, in others it contributes to:
Causing Morton’s neuroma, sesamoiditis, or stress fractures.
Due to increased demand on the posterior chain.
Which can lead to problems with joints such as the spine, knees or hips.
Understanding an individual’s gait helps us tailor treatment plans more precisely, whether that involves specific physiotherapy, orthotics, changes in footwear, or surgery. It also allows us to identify preventative strategies before symptoms worsen or progress to more severe structural problems.
For athletes, gait analysis can be the key to unlocking performance gains, reducing injury risk, and managing load efficiently. For everyday patients, it offers clarity and direction when dealing with persistent foot and ankle issues.
The foot is an incredibly complex structure, designed to absorb shock, maintain balance, and propel us forward - all in a split second with every step we take.
If you are suffering from persistent foot, ankle, or lower limb pain, there is often more going on than meets the eye.
By looking carefully at how you walk and run, we can identify the underlying causes of many common problems, from plantar fasciitis and shin splints to forefoot pain and tendon dysfunction. Gait analysis is not just for elite athletes, it’s a valuable clinical tool for anyone who wants to walk and move more comfortably.
If you’d like to discuss whether gait analysis might benefit you, please get in touch via my practice page.
Mr Martin Klinke is one of London’s most trusted, and experienced foot specialists. He performs many bunion surgeries each year, and is a highly skilled surgeon.
He offers this surgical treatment to private self-funded and insured patients at London Bridge Hospital, BUPA Cromwell, and New Victoria Hospital. He also runs outpatient clinics at Chiswick Outpatient & Diagnostic Centre, The Shard, Canary Wharf and One Welbeck.
You can find all his patient reviews here.
