Gait & Balance Training

Gait is known as a person’s pattern of walking. Gait training is a type of physical therapy to help treat an injury or a physical condition that limits the ability to walk or walk correctly. Abnormal gait increases with age due to older people experiencing poor balance and coordination, weaker muscles, and delayed reactions.

Common causes that may lead to abnormal gait may include

• Inner ear disorder
• Stroke 
• Foot/ankle conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Arthritis

Benefits of gait training may include

• Improving balance
• Improving posture
• Relieving pain
• Strengthening muscles and joints
• Developing muscle memory
• Increasing mobility
• Improving reflexes

Physical therapy and occupational therapy may be recommended for gait training. Physical therapists and occupational therapists use different techniques to help improve a patients' gait pattern. At Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy, your physical therapist or occupational therapist will pick the best type of gait training based on your strength, mobility, condition and ability. 

Your physical therapist and/or occupational therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include targeted exercises to strengthen weakened muscles, stretches to improve flexibility and changes to your footwear. Part of your gait training may include standing, sitting, stepping, and lifting your legs. 

Reddy Care has state of the art equipment to help improve a patient's gait and balance. 

• The TecnoBody Treadmill allows therapists to fully analyze the patient's gait while running or walking. Patients are immersed in a virtual environment that provides feedback in real time using 3-D cameras. The immediate feedback helps the patient correct their gait pattern. Patients are notified about their walking pattern, range of motion, stride length, knee and hip flexion and weight symmetry. 

• The Tecnobody Balance System is used to test and improve a patient's static and dynamic balance. The intuitive and easy to use TecnoBody software comes fully equipped with a number of assessment, training modules, games and activities. This enables the patient and therapist to visually see the patient's balance analysis as well as actively correcting and working on.

• The Solo Step is designed to prevent patients from falling while also aiding and encouraging their balance. This overhead track and harness system instills confidence in patients to facilitate maximum recovery from neurological and musculoskeletal deficits. It provides support during all aspects of therapy, including sit-to-stand, ambulation, balance training and climbing stairs. Patients are able to challenge themselves by walking forward, backward and over uneven surfaces without the fear of falling.

If you feel like you or a loved one can benefit from gait and balance training, give us a call today at Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy.

Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021   Tel. (516) 829-0030

Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735   Tel. (516) 420-2900

Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797   Tel. (516) 367-1111

Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729   Tel. (631) 243-0247

North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005   Tel. (516) 344-0030

In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030 

*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*

Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360  Tel. (718) 224-8480

Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572  Tel. (516) 992-2282

Sources: ClevelandClinic, Beaumont 

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Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.