Catwalk, boardwalk, walkway, sidewalk, moonwalk, walk of shame, sleep walk, skywalk, all bring different connotations to the individual on what style of gait may be occurring to suit the label. If we are honest, sitting at a cafe drinking a coffee or in a pub having a beer is as much about watching others as it is about our own culinary satisfaction. There is something intriguing about how other people walk, but what about our own gait? Do we think of that as much as we observe others?
Once there is any loss, such as injury, an acute awareness arises. But why wait for problems before analysing our walking performance?
In many ways gait is the outer space of human endeavour. Is a person about to rob a jewellery store? Are they trying to smuggle illegal contraband through customs? Verses the model’s walk on the runway, or the 100-metre runner at the Olympics, or our children playing whom we recognise from a long distance. Massive research and millions of dollars have been spent trying to fingerprint our gait, yet we still have no finality and an abundance of unknowns are yet to be explored. These variables suggest we are able to adapt our gait quicker than science can evaluate our walking styles.
One of nature’s gifts is we can deftly change our gait for better or for worse. For example how another person walks when they are drunk is quite different from how another walks when sober.
The nature shows on television demonstrate the life and limb decisions gait alteration can have. Poor gait, higher risks of impairment. Why do we believe humans can disregard this message?
Gait cycle
The gait cycle is the initial contact of the same consecutive parts of the foot on the ground. It is synonymous with the stride length. For example, if heel strike is the initial contact, the gait cycle for the right leg is from one heel strike to the next heel strike on the same foot.
Each stride has to be the same length as the other leg otherwise we have a problem, and with any problem we start going around in circles until we solve the issue. As humans, if we shorten our stride on one side we then start to make trick movements with our feet, knees, hips, or backs to stay in sequence and this is bad. Prolonged limp on a sore knee equals achilles tendonitis. Osteoarthritis is usually seen before it is felt, not so much by the average person, but by a health provider particularly movement experts.
As we increase our leg velocity the length of our stride reduces. In jogging, our swing reduces 60% and in running 70%, which means a smaller surface of joint takes repetitive impact, often uncomfortable when the load is not spread and is why running tends to be reduced as we age and lose general mobility compounding our loss of range of movement.
Not only does leg movement affect gait, all other body functions affect gait. Arm swing is especially influential. Try walking with your hands in your pockets, or folded behind your back. Walking with eyes closed changes gait. Disease, vitamins, diet, sickness, social moment, and environment all alter gait. Surrounding circumstance creates change, desperation to make it to the bathroom causes a very different gait from voluntary ablutions. Good gait is to be treasured!
Occupational advice is an external factor in changing gait. A physician recommends walking for heart and lung fitness — that is best achieved walking uphill. A physiotherapist will more likely recommend walking for mobility, that is best achieved walking downhill! Do both, but understand what the value of each is.
In the judges hip hop article it was suggested to walk along an imaginary straight line and see if the big toes hit the line each step. If not, gently encourage the toes to do so. Say two to three minutes each day, in small cohorts of about four to six each walk, increasing as the weeks go by. If you have additional pain or discomfort in the lower limbs, stop for two days then recommence. Too quick an alteration of walking style can cause pain problems.
Have someone make a short video of you walking on their mobile phone and replay. If you see hiccups in your walking style, seek the opinion of a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, or podiatrist. A simple correction of gait control may be all that is needed to steer in the right direction. Set the example —after all, judges are notarised as gait keepers.
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R Tolkien