What Is Gait Training?
Gait training is physiotherapy focused on improving walking mechanics, safety, efficiency, and confidence. It is used for a wide range of conditions including neurological impairment after stroke, post-surgical recovery, gait changes from chronic pain or injury, and biomechanical issues that increase injury risk in runners and athletes.
Normal walking requires complex coordination of strength, balance, timing, and motor control. When any of these components is impaired, gait quality suffers and the risk of falls, pain, and injury increases.
Who Needs Gait Training
- Stroke survivors with hemiplegia or gait asymmetry
- People recovering from hip or knee replacement
- Older adults with a shuffling or unsteady gait
- People with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions
- Runners with biomechanical issues contributing to injury
- People who have been using a walking aid and want to transition off it
- Anyone whose walking has changed significantly after injury or surgery
Gait Analysis
Your physiotherapist will observe your walking pattern carefully, looking at step length, cadence, trunk and arm swing, foot strike, hip extension, and any compensations you have developed. This assessment guides which components of your program to prioritize.
Gait Training for Runners
Running gait analysis helps identify mechanics that contribute to running injuries. Common targets include overstriding, excessive vertical oscillation, hip drop, and crossover gait. Retraining these patterns with cueing and video feedback, alongside appropriate strengthening, reduces injury risk and improves running economy.
Book Gait Training in Vancouver
Available at all four Physiolab Vancouver locations. Covered under most extended health plans with direct billing.