Pain Treatment Q&A
Why do you
check gait?
Movement changes precede pain
Before pain appears, movement changes first. By analyzing gait, we can find the root cause of pain and identify areas that will hurt later.
Quick Answer
Movement changes appear before pain. The body compensates for overloaded or weak areas by changing movement patterns. This compensation causes secondary overload in other areas, eventually leading to pain.
✅ Gait analysis reveals these patterns
By analyzing gait, we can identify which muscles are overloaded, which are weak, and where problems will occur. This allows us to prevent pain before it happens and fundamentally resolve existing pain.
The Body’s Compensation Strategy
When certain areas become overloaded or weakened, the body doesn’t just stop functioning. It finds other ways to move:
① Primary Problem
A specific muscle or joint becomes overloaded or weakened. For example:
- Right gluteus medius weakened → Pelvis drops on right side
- Left ankle mobility restricted → Can’t push off properly with left foot
- Thoracic spine stiff → Shoulder forced to compensate for rotation
② Body Compensates
To continue functioning, the body uses other muscles and joints. This is “compensation.”
- Right gluteus weak → Left side works harder to maintain balance
- Left ankle stiff → Right hip works harder
- Thoracic spine stiff → Neck and lower back work harder
→ At this stage, there’s no pain yet. But movement patterns have changed.
③ Secondary Problem → Pain
Compensating areas become overloaded and develop problems.
- Left side overload → Left hip, left knee pain
- Right hip overload → Right lower back pain
- Neck and lower back overload → Neck pain, lower back pain
→ This is when pain appears. But the real problem is the “original cause,” not the painful area.
What Gait Analysis Reveals
Simple walking reveals the body’s overall movement strategy
Weight Distribution Balance
Is weight evenly distributed on both feet? Or is one side bearing more weight?
- Asymmetric weight distribution
- Center of mass shift
- Left-right imbalance
Finding: Which side is overloaded
Pelvic and Trunk Movement
Are pelvis and trunk stable? Or excessive movement?
- Pelvic drop
- Trunk lean
- Rotation angle
Finding: Core stability
Foot Contact Pattern
Which part of foot contacts ground first? Are both feet symmetric?
- Heel strike vs. forefoot strike
- Pronation/supination
- Left-right differences
Finding: Ankle and foot function
Stride Length and Rhythm
Are stride lengths equal? Is rhythm smooth?
- Left-right stride differences
- Walking speed changes
- Smooth vs. jerky rhythm
Finding: Overall movement coordination
Real Cases: How Gait Analysis Found Root Causes
Case 1: Right Shoulder Pain
Patient Complaint: “Right shoulder hurts”
Gait Analysis Finding: Left gluteus medius weak → Pelvis drops left → Right shoulder compensates to maintain balance
Treatment: Strengthened left gluteus medius, corrected pelvic alignment → Shoulder pain resolved
→ Real problem was hip, not shoulder
Case 2: Chronic Lower Back Pain
Patient Complaint: “Lower back constantly hurts”
Gait Analysis Finding: Right ankle stiff → Reduced right side push-off → Lower back compensates for lost power
Treatment: Restored right ankle mobility, strengthened calf → Lower back pain resolved
→ Real problem was ankle, not lower back
Case 3: Recurrent Left Knee Pain
Patient Complaint: “Left knee keeps recurring”
Gait Analysis Finding: Thoracic spine stiff → Excessive pelvic rotation → Left knee forced to compensate
Treatment: Improved thoracic spine mobility, corrected pelvic rotation → Knee pain resolved and no recurrence
→ Real problem was thoracic spine, not knee
✅ Common pattern: Painful area ≠ Problem area
Gait analysis allows us to identify the real problem area, not just the painful area.
Related Questions
Q. My gait looks normal. Do I still need analysis?
Yes. Many movement imbalances are not visible to the naked eye. You may not notice subtle pelvic drops, weight distribution imbalances, or stride length differences, but these can cause pain.
→ Gait analysis uses video and measurement tools to detect subtle changes invisible to the naked eye.
Q. I have no pain. Do I still need gait analysis?
Yes, very helpful. Movement changes appear before pain. Even without pain now, if movement imbalances exist, pain can develop later.
Gait analysis can:
- Predict which areas may develop pain
- Prevent pain before it happens
- Optimize performance (for athletes, active individuals)
→ Gait analysis is useful for both pain treatment and prevention.
Q. How long does gait analysis take?
Typically takes 10-15 minutes. You simply walk on a flat surface or treadmill for a few minutes, and video analysis and measurements are performed.
We provide immediate feedback on findings and discuss treatment plan together.
→ It’s a quick and effective way to find the root cause of pain.
Q. Can gait be corrected?
✅ Yes, of course. When you treat underlying problems (strengthen weak muscles, restore mobility to stiff joints), gait naturally improves.
Our approach:
- Downshift: Release areas causing compensation
- Activate: Strengthen weak muscles, restore mobility to stiff joints
- Integrate: Practice new movement patterns, habituation training
→ When underlying problems are resolved, gait improves naturally.
Gait-based treatment at Yonsei Shinmyung
We don’t just treat painful areas. We find and resolve root causes.
- Gait Analysis — Identify movement imbalances and compensation patterns
- Root Cause Identification — Determine which muscles and joints are problematic
- Downshift — Release areas causing compensation
- Activate — Restore function to problem areas
- Integrate — Correct movement patterns and habituation training
- Re-assessment — Check gait improvement after treatment