For someone who has trouble walking and standing, gait training is a type of therapy which helps to improve their balance. If you have trouble getting around, gait training can help you regain your independence, even if you have an adaptive device.

Gait training helps with:

• Joint and muscle strength
• Posture and balance improvement
• Endurance
• Advancing muscle memory
• Repetitive motion training
• Reducing risks of falls
• Increasing mobility

Who can best benefit from gait training?

If standing and walking are troublesome to do independently, gait training may be one of the best recommendations from a doctor. There are multiple conditions which influence one’s ability to walk independently. These include, but are not limited to:

• Injuries to the spine
• Fractures or broken bones in the legs or pelvis
• Joint degradation, injuries, or surgeries
• Strokes, brain injuries and other neurological conditions
• Muscular Dystrophy and other musculoskeletal disorders

What can I expect from gait training?

Gait training typically uses machines, weights, and resistance to aid an individual to walk or stand. For instance, one may walk the treadmill with assistance or a harness. In addition, muscle strengthening exercises, coupled with physical therapy, will allow individuals to step over objects, lift their legs, sit and stand, and other activities.

The type of exercise, as well as the intensity and duration of training all depends on each individual patient’s specific condition, physical abilities, and goals.

To find out if gait training is right for you, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists. Click here to have our office reach out to you or call us directly at (973) 627-7888.

Want to hear about our patients’ experiences with Denville Medical? Click here.