Gait analysis has proven usable for describing and quantifying changes in the gait pattern.

The method has been used for evaluation of different types of treatment of hip arthrosis.

The three-dimensional gait analysis identifies the gait pattern by the curve shape, joint angle positions, joint angle speed, joint angle acceleration and the electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity measured during a gait cycle. By means of this data it is possible to calculate muscle strength features and the amount of strain on the joints.

In order to gather the data, the subject has to walk across a bridge containing force plates providing ground reaction forces in three directions.

The subject is filmed by six vedeo cameras while walking. The moment the subject passes a set of photoelectric cells an electronic trigger signal is released. This signal gathers data from the force plates, the cameras, and the electromyographic equipment for the registering of muscle activity.

Due to the time-consuming process and the lack of gait laboratories in Danish hospitals, gait analysis for clinical purposesis is rarely used in Denmark. However, functional tests and questionnaires about the patient's own perception of his function ability are often used.

The sensitivity of the above-mentioned tools has not been compared with the biomechanical gait analysis. The Vicon polygen gait analysis system is situated at Hammel Neuro Centre.