gait cycle
What is it? Why is correcting and optimising gait important? How does it relate to human movement?
how does gait cycle analysis work and Why Is Gait correction so Important?
Pain results from dysfunctional biomechanics, fascial adhesions and postural adaptations. The best way to identify the problem is to assess these dysfunctions either by a gait cycle analysis or gait correction protocols?
If the most primal and basic human motion is running, wouldn’t your problems be on open display if you were to try to run? If you could run like Usain Bolt, jump like LeBron James, punch like Muhammad Ali and kick a ball like Ronaldo – would you still be in the same amount of pain? The answer will almost exclusively be no. Training gait (the way you stand, walk and run) implements a level of symmetry and strength that is needed for our everyday life because our everyday life has evolved around our gait cycle.
You might say “Yes, but many professional athletes find themselves injured all of the time”… and you wouldn’t be wrong. In our experience, injuries in professional athletes are often a result of how they train and their rehabilitation practices. We aren’t trying to copy how they train; millions of athletes and average joe’s alike try that at the gym and sports ground every year. If moving that well was that easy then we’d all be able to sprint to work and backflip our way out of chronic pain. Again, we’re not trying to copy how they train: we’re trying to copy HOW THEY MOVE.
Having your gait cycle (your run) analysed quickly shines a light on where your adhesions, A-symmetries and muscle weaknesses are and it lays the path for gait correction. Certain points of your body drop down too far upon impact, other parts are stiff and immobile, curves in the spine become more apparent and failure to rotate at certain points becomes incredibly clear.
If someone were to then deconstruct the weak or dysfunctional points of your run, and construct these into bite sized, corrective exercises, what would happen to your structure? If you paired this with the release of your adhesions… what would happen to your pain?
how to use gait correction to
reduce risk of injury, decrease pain and increase athleticism
Functional Patterns was designed to optimise the Big Four of human movement: standing, walking, running, and throwing. Walking and running fall under the category of gait. If you learn what it takes to precisely execute these movements to the highest degree, the benefits will transfer to literally every other movement you do and you will therefore see a decrease in dysfunctions and their associated pain. Whether it be a passive position like sitting, an athletic position like cutting laterally, or any other movement configuration – optimising your gait means that you improve your entire movement spectrum. Instead of trading fitness for function or vice versa, you get both simultaneously! That’s the Functional Patterns way!
Chronic Pain and Posture Rehab in every step
How many steps do you take per day? 2000? 7000? 12000? If you’ve ever tracked it, you may have been surprised at the sheer amount of times you put one foot in front of the other every single day.
What happens when each step is slightly out? overtime, it compounds into chronic pain, poor posture, tightness, weakness, imbalance etc.
Conversely, when you learn to sequence your gait cycle correctly, every step brings you closer and closer to symmetry, strength,, reduced pain, reduced risk of injury and overall functionality.
how to correct gait
We have discussed using gait as an analysis tool and the importance of correcting gait, but how do you address it?
If your gait mechanics are faulty, it is extremely hard to improve the gait cycle by simply practicing walking or running. Rather, it is important to break down each individual section of the gait cycle, beginning with YOUR most pressing points, and to work on strengthening that motion in an extremely monitored and environment where your training can make macro and micro adjustments where you require. After all, your body is going to want to do the opposite of what it is supposed to in some settings and therefore a keen eye is very important.
Fascia's integral affect on poor posture
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a type of connective tissue that surrounds and supports various structures in the body, including muscles, bones, and organs. It is dense, fibrous, and made up of collagen and other proteins.
Fascia has several functions, such as providing structural support, allowing movement and flexibility, and facilitating communication between different parts of the body.
Tight or restricted fascia can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. but it can adapt to mechanical stress, remodelling the cellular/tissue structure and changing to suit the environment.
How Does gait Affect Our Fascia?
Even when we are just sitting or standing, our body is constantly making adjustments to compensate for our motions, big or small. The connecting mechanism of all these movements is fascia.
Its job is to adapt to mechanical stress and if that mechanical stress is abnormal or dysfunctional, your fascia has to work double time and compromise its values to adapt to that stress. This is the fundamental basis of maladaptation. You put your body in a certain position or move it in a certain way enough times and it is forced to adapt to that environment - whether that adaption benefits you or harms you.
How Does Fascia Affect Our gait?
Once your body has maladapted to an environment of dysfunctional movement, your fascia becomes less lubricated and rigid. It essentially calcifies/hardens. Your bodies structure adapts to the dysfunctional movements and loses its structural integrity. People with poor posture feel much less connected within their body because their connecting mechanism, fascia, is now compromised.
Fascia does not just handle posture, it innovates and connects the immune system, the nervous system, pain receptors and just about every single system within your body. Dry and dysfunctional fascia therefore causes a host of issues aside from poor posture.
Dysfunctional fascia turns basic feeling receptors within the body into pain receptors. These receptors become overactive and can be identified as a source of chronic pain.
Chronic Back Pain Reduction Case Studies
Let’s take a dive into some Functional Patterns back pain reduction results, testimonials & before-after’s.
pain-free and growing mass - 18 months
BEFORE
- Scoliosis
- Winging scapulars
- Frequent pain
- Poor intra-abdominal presure
AFTER
- Increased muscle mass
- Straighter spine
- Scapular sitting flat
- Traps engaged
- Better symmetry in the body
- Moving pain free
I had pains and problems over a period of 14 years… nothing worked and in fact made my problems worse or created new ones. My pains are pretty much gone after working consistently with Fiachra. There is so much more to improve but I’m now able to do activities such as clean the house and go for long walks without any issues or fears (which I couldn’t do before starting FP). If something pops up, I’m able to address it with the knowledge I’ve gained through my FP training and Fi’s guidance. Fiachra and FP have changed my life…
nik
Functional Patterns Melbourne Client
car accident induced chronic pain. rehab using gait correction
BEFORE
- Debilitating daily pain
- Lack of mobility
- Lack of stability
- Multiple recovering injuries
- Limp during walking
- Disconnected biomechanics
- No feeling in certain muscles
AFTER
- Drastic reduction in pain
- Increased functional mobility
- Increased stability
- Rehabilitated injuries
- Drastically reduced limp
- Mind muscle connection and strength
Since working with Fe for the past couple of years I have noticed significant improvement in my movement integrity, foundations and ability. I was suffering from chronic pain after multiple breaks and injuries from a car accident… My daily pain has reduced… My endurance and stamina has increased…my “limp” doesn’t come on as quickly… I have more control and confidence within my body… Fe has helped me work through my physical limitations and contributed to getting me through a tough time when I thought I’d be stuck in a pain cycle.
deanna
Functional Patterns Melbourne Client
UPPER BACK PAIN FIXED AND GAIT correction RESULT - 12 Sessions
BEFORE
- Upper back pain
- Lack of stability
- Lack of core tension
- Lack of hip rotation
- Excessive hip shift
- Disconnected biomechanics
AFTER
- Zero back pain
- Increased stability in the hips
- Improved core tension
- Improved thoracic extension
- Feeling connected and powerful
- Easier to breathe
Before Functional Patterns I had trained calisthenics and strength training, which lead to consistent thoracic back pain and tension. After training FP my back pain is gone. I can breathe easier and I feel like my body moves with more control.
Millar
Functional Patterns Melbourne Client
better posture and pain-free
My client Monica on her journey to functionality. With a lack of correct intrinsic core tension, her low and mid spine would protrude without her knowing. Here we can see the result of 9 in person sessions where the low back is supported by her spinal erectors and better intra abdominal pressure. More to come
Fiachra
human biomechanics specialist
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gait cycle gains
If you have chronic pain, poor posture or muscle weakness and want to identify and treat the root cause through lifestyle and movement changes, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Functional Patterns Melbourne.
Fixing gait cycle
What training with Functional Patterns Melbourne looks like
phone call to discuss with one of our team
During this call we will discuss a brief history of your condition, goals and availability. From this information, we will match you with one of our Human Biomechanics Specialists. We have extensive experience working with and significantly chronic pain in our clients, see some of our results below.
Initial consultation
First, we assess your static posture and conduct a gait cycle analysis. During the gait cycle analysis, you will walk or run on a treadmill, and the practitioner captures the movement in slow motion to evaluate the biomechanics of their gait.
Static posture pictures help to identify any areas of the body where there may be an imbalance, such as forward head posture, a rounded back, or uneven hips. These imbalances can contribute to pain, injury, and reduced performance.
Note: It is conducive to wear minimal clothing during these assessments to ensure the practitioner can accurately assess the body’s alignment and identify any areas of asymmetry.
what happens after my first session
What now?
Your practitioner will assess your initial gait and static posture images discuss their recommendations specific to you.
How long will it take to see results?
This is dependant on your body, how committed you are to the lifestyle protocols FP recommend, and how dedicated you are to training. We recommend 1-2 sessions in the gym with a trainer per week alongside practising the exercises at home.
Corrective exercise and dynamic movements
We will progressively build on the techniques you learn through chambers, corrective and dynamic exercises. As gait cycle results are our number one metric to objectively measure your progress, we will often take updated recordings of your gait during these sessions.
Decrease pain and improve posture
We will work on breaking down the dysfunctions that led to your poor posture and pain while building new, functional patterns within the body. This will help dramatically decrease pain, improve spinal alignment, movement, agility, strength, posture and overall quality of life
And Finally, Your Result!
Our goal is to get you an incredible result. Our entire business and methodology is based around noticeably improving poor posture & chronic pain and decreasing pain to the point where people cannot ignore the work we do. If you want to change your life and be our next result, get in touch and start your incredible journey with Functional Patterns Melbourne.
Ready To Take A Step Towards Pain-Free Functionality?
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