We have all heard of weight training, but have you ever heard of gait training? When a baby is growing up and becoming more adventurous, they start to crawl around and eventually try to stand up. The more they crawl and attempt to stand up, the more they learn what it takes to walk and they form their own gait, or way of walking. After an illness or injury, people may have difficulty walking and will need to re-learn how to walk either on their own or with the assistance of an adaptive device.
Gait training is a type of physical therapy which helps people improve the way they walk or stand. An important aspect of gait training is to help in preventing falls in the future. The training will help in strengthening muscles and joints and will help in improving overall balance and posture. The body will build endurance while developing muscle memory as the legs are being retrained with repetitive motion.
Gait training will help in improving overall health as well, such as reducing heart disease and osteoporosis, whereas complete immobility may impair a person’s health even more. People suffering from injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, broken legs or pelvis, joint injuries, accident injuries, amputation, and knee replacements, are all qualified candidates for gait training. Children that are in need of gait training usually have suffered from brain injuries, neurological disorders, or musculoskeletal issues.
A person who is fit and healthy enough for gait training will be provided a prescription from a doctor and treatment will start as soon as possible. The exercises included in gait training mostly involve machines that assist the patient with walking but can also include human assistance as well.
Gait training can be tough, but it can be beneficial in the long run for the health of both the mind and the body of the patient.
We feel like we have the best physical therapists around. Did you know you don't need a referral to get help from a Physical Therapist? Direct access is available for you, please call us and set up an evaluation so we can help get you back on your feet. In Orange County we offer Physical Therapy in Chester, Goshen, Monroe, Port Jervis, and Montgomery. Westchester County has Physical Therapy in Armonk, Bedford, and Hawthorne. In Ulster County we offer Physical Therapy in Wallkill, while in Sullivan County you can get Physical Therapy in Liberty. To round out our 12 locations in New York, those living in Rockland County can go to Physical Therapy in New City as well as Pomona. If you happen to live in PA, we also have Physical Therapy in Milford and Dingmans Ferry of Pike County. Give us a call today!
