The Importance of Developing Good Gait

The answer is, simply, that having a good gait helps amputees to minimise additional stresses to the body. Amputees automatically use more energy to walk. Also, the sound limb naturally has to work harder to compensate for a missing limb. If, in addition, you have a poor gait, you end up using even more energy because your muscles have to work harder to bring your body back into balance and alignment, and you put additional stress on the residual and sound limbs – and you need to keep both these body parts in the best shape you can!

In order to enable the pelvis to do its job in gait, as outlined earlier, you need to build up the muscles of your buttocks and hip with specific exercises. Initially, the idea of an exercise program may seem daunting, but just a little effort will result in a better gait. Paying close attention to the advice of the physiotherapists and prosthetists in this area will facilitate proper walking techniques, and reduce the likelihood of poor walking habits. A comfortably fitting and well-aligned artificial limb is, of course, imperative.

A suggestion to help you work on developing a good gait, or to break bad habits, is to watch yourself walking in a mirror. You will see how it feels when you do walk properly and you can then duplicate it when you are not in front of a mirror. Or you can videotape yourself walking to determine how you are doing. Your physiotherapist, prosthetist, and others on your “rehab team” can offer advice and suggestions for exercises and any gait training programs that might be available to you. Always, of course, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

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