Gait analysis is the measurement of how people move when walking. At a gait analysis appointment we record the movement pattern of your child’s legs using a video camera and motion capture system while they walk along a large (10 metre) room. The cameras will follow your child’s leg movements by tracking small plastic balls that are placed onto their feet, legs, and around their waist using a small amount of sticky tape.
Upper limb movement analysis is the assessment of how people move their arms. At an upper limb movement analysis appointment we record the movement of your child's arms and the activation patterns of their muscles.
We will record your child’s movement while they sit and perform a range of tasks including reaching and touching a target, picking up a bottle and other functional or play based tasks. Small sensors are attached on to your child's arms that record the electrical signals of their muscles. These tell us when their body is turning their muscles on and off. We also measure the range of movement of their arms by gently moving them and measuring the angles.
Upper limb movement analysis happens in two stages:
- gathering information about your child's arm movement and function
- putting this information together in a report which will help your child's doctor or therapist make decisions about treatment.