Gait & Motion Analysis
Improving How Kids Walk
Sometimes children need special shoes, leg braces, casts or surgery to help them walk better. Each child鈥檚 way of walking, stepping or running (called their 鈥済ait鈥) is different. At 波色单双, our Gait & Motion Analysis Lab builds a three-dimensional (3-D) computer model of your child鈥檚 gait to help us figure out what might be causing gait problems. From this, we can create a special treatment plan.
Our gait analysis lab is one of just 10 in the country with full accreditation and one of only two in the region based in a pediatric hospital. We have the highest level of clinical and technical excellence in movement analysis. That means we can offer children the best possible care in evaluating their gait and motion challenges. We鈥檙e here to help kids with gait problems reach their full potential.
Conditions We Treat
As children grow, gait problems can get worse because of changes in their bones or severe tightening in their muscles. Kids who have trouble walking (and may benefit from gait analysis) may have conditions such as:
Services We Offer
At the Gait & Motion Analysis Lab, we place electrodes and reflective markers on your child to measure their muscle activity and track the motion in different parts of their body. We use video cameras, computers and pressure plates to collect detailed information about your child鈥檚 gait and help us figure out what鈥檚 going on.聽
Our gait analysis experts work together to collect and interpret the data. Our team includes:
- A biomechanist聽(who runs the computer technology, collects the data, and processes it for the report)
- An orthopedic聽surgeon聽(who leads the team in understanding the data and recommending treatment options)
- A physical therapist聽(who supervises and guides your child through all of the testing procedures and helps educate your family)
The data we collect, along with a physical exam, can help us identify ways to improve your child鈥檚 ability to walk, step and run. That might include聽occupational therapy听(翱罢),听physical therapy聽(PT), medications,听orthotics聽(inserts or braces), and/or surgery.
Related Specialties
Why Choose Us
Families choose Nemours because we鈥檙e experts at diagnosing and treating gait problems in children. Our lab was one of the first 鈥 and is still one of very few 鈥 in the country that specializes in working with kids and teens. And, the orthopedic surgeons and doctors we work with are among the very best in their field. Together, we鈥檙e actively involved in聽studies听补苍诲听clinical trials聽to look for better ways to diagnose and treat childhood orthopedic and neuromuscular diseases.
Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia
We offer gait analysis at聽Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware听(奥颈濒尘颈苍驳迟辞苍).
- Regularly ranked among the top children鈥檚 hospitals in the country for pediatric orthopedics by聽
- State-of-the-art computer technology to diagnose gait problems
- Internationally renowned聽skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism)听补苍诲听cerebral palsy听别虫辫别谤迟颈蝉别
- 奥辞谤濒诲-肠濒补蝉蝉听muscular dystrophy听辫谤辞驳谤补尘
- Nationally noted, complete聽scoliosis/spinal deformities听辫谤辞驳谤补尘
- 笔别诲颈补迟谤颈肠听sports medicine听辫谤辞驳谤补尘 that focuses on injury rehabilitation, prevention and performance improvement
- Pediatric outpatient therapy services听辫谤辞驳谤补尘 that鈥檚 one of the only in the region accredited by the聽
- Certified hand,听occupational,听physical听补苍诲听speech/language therapists
- Wheelchair clinic and聽assistive technology聽to help kids get around, communicate and learn
- State-of-the-art cast room and on-site brace fitting,听orthotic听补苍诲听prosthetic听蝉丑辞辫蝉
- Indoor pediatric therapy pool (the largest of its kind in the tristate area)
Highlights of Our Gait & Motion Analysis
Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.
