The Nicklaus Children’s Gait Analysis Lab is dedicated to helping children with neurologic and orthopedic conditions achieve their fullest potential. "Gait" refers to an individual’s way of walking. A gait and motion analysis is an essential part of identifying and understanding any muscular, neurological or orthopedic, conditions hindering your child's movement in their daily lives.

Our state-of-the-art lab uses innovative video and computer technology to capture movements, muscle activity, and forces while a person is walking. Information from gait analysis, together with imaging, medical history, and the results of other clinical evaluation, helps guide individualized treatment plans to support your child’s mobility and overall well-being.

Who is a Candidate for the Clinic?

Children and adolescents with complex conditions and injuries who have concerns about their walking are often candidates for gait and movement analysis. Children with the following conditions may benefit from a gait analysis:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Spina Bifida
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
• Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
• Brain injury
• Complex movement disorders
• Idiopathic Toe-Walking
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
• Limb-length discrepancy and limb differences
• Foot disorders
• Other neurological or orthopedic conditions

How to Get Started

In order to be eligible for participation, patients should meet the following criteria:

• 4 years of age and older; less than 21 years old
• Has a walking concern and seeking treatment intervention
• Able to walk independently with/without an assistive device for a minimum of 20 feet multiple times (household ambulator)
• Has been walking for 1 year
• Tolerant to tactile stimuli for marker and electrode placement
• Ability to follow directions and cooperate with a 3-hour test

About the Gait Analysis Lab

The Gait Anaylsis Lab is a collaboration between Nicklaus Children's Neuroscience Institute, Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, and pediatric rehabilitation services. 

During their visit, patients can expect to be at the lab for 3-4 hours. The gait and movement analysis is done by a team of specialists in a lab that uses innovative video and computer technology to capture movements, muscle activity, and forces while a person is walking. This data will be clinically interpreted by the gait lab team, and will be used to guide treatment recommendations for children with medically complex diagnosis that affect movement, with the primary goal being to help children improve their walking ability.

Learn more about the evaluations in the Gait Analysis Lab and how to prepare for your child's visit.