Human beings stand and move in an erect position. The two legged nature of humans means that the mechanics of the human walking movement are completely different from those of animals. Running is dependent on the muscles of the legs and on the mobility of the hip, knee and ankle joints. Humans use their upper body for balance as well as the arms which tend to oppose the movements of the legs to ensure that there is sufficient balance.
Sporting injuries are extremely common when it comes to the legs. Leg joints, bones and muscles tend to be affected by injuries from time to time. Some people may struggle with sporting injuries in their legs much more often than others, even if they are undertaking similar sporting pursuits. Further to this, individuals may also find it difficult to push their bodies to a higher level even though they try extremely hard. This is where gait analysis comes into the picture. Gait analysis is a part of biomechanics which is used to determine if there is some problem with the way an individual walks and runs. This problem may lead to a better understanding of the reason for the number of injuries the individual has suffered. It may also explain why some individuals are less successful when it comes to speed build up than others. Gait analysis for runners can therefore be very useful.
Gait analysis is usually performed as running gait analysis. Running gait analysis is conducted on a treadmill. The professional will either watch the legs while the individual is running or videotape the entire process. A highly professional running gait analysis session will involve a number of cameras that capture different angles of the individual as he or she is running. This will give the doctor a complete view of the gait of the individual which can be used to determine any mistakes that are being made. Gait analysis is therefore extremely useful for correcting walking problems that could create long term issues for the individual. Gait analysis for physical therapy of various issues regarding walking and running could be very useful.
Many non sporting individuals are not undergoing gait analysis tests because of problems that they suffer with their legs, particularly in the form of aches and pains. These aches and pains occur as the legs receive uneven pressure because of the improper gait of the individual. Clinical gait analysis is also much more accurate than observational gait analysis. Observational gait analysis is, however, sufficient for individuals who walk or jog for recreational purposes.