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Gait assessment in children
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care
- 40,000+ babies, children and young people cared for every year
- 20+ paediatric orthopaedic consultants
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GAIT ASSESSMENT IN CHILDREN AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
Your child’s walk is an important part of their movement and general health. At HCA UK, our leading paediatric orthopaedic consultants can assess your child’s gait in detail and identify any issues that may lead to developmental or musculoskeletal problems as they develop and grow.
We have decades of experience in treating children, and you and your child will be given focused, one-on-one care at every stage, with clear information, accurate diagnosis and a detailed plan for any treatment.
Your child’s gait is the way they walk. An expert gait assessment is a process where an orthopaedic team examine your child’s walk and other aspects of their physical movement in detail. It allows them to identify any issues that might lead to injury or musculoskeletal problems later in life and devise a treatment plan that can correct those problems early.
It's also a useful procedure for young athletes and sportspeople, as it can help to make sure they’re moving in the most efficient way to get maximum performance and minimise their risk of injury.
A gait assessment is carried out by a specialist orthopaedic team, but it’s a simple process for your child, and doesn’t involve any surgery or intimidating test machinery. They’ll ask about your child’s birth, their development, their medical history and your general family history too.
Before looking at how they walk, your consultant will carry out a general physical check and assess their motor function.
The team needs to make a careful, detailed assessment of how your child walks, so they’ll ask them to walk and move in several different ways. They’re looking for patterns of movement that are abnormal or indicate the possibility of problems developing later in life.
Those movement tests will include:
If those scans lead to them diagnosing a specific issue, they’ll talk you through their proposed treatment in detail.
Before looking at how they walk, your consultant will carry out a general physical check and assess their motor function.
The team needs to make a careful, detailed assessment of how your child walks, so they’ll ask them to walk and move in several different ways. They’re looking for patterns of movement that are abnormal or indicate the possibility of problems developing later in life.
Those movement tests will include:
- Their walking speed, stride and balance as they walk into a room
- How they walk heel-to-toe in a straight line
- How they hop in one place
- How they bend their knee
- Touching their finger to their nose, assessing other functions such as coordination
If those scans lead to them diagnosing a specific issue, they’ll talk you through their proposed treatment in detail.
Every child is different and develops in their own way. Many children have minor issues with their gait that disappear as they get older. However, there are some common issues the team will be looking out for:
- In-toe and out-toe gait, where the toes point either inwards our outwards when your child walks, instead of straight ahead
- Knock knees, where your child’s knees are close or touch when they walk, or their ankles are separated when they place their knees together
- Bow legs, where your child’s knees stay separated when their ankles are together
- Any balance problems, or joints that are unusually loose or mobile
None of these are necessarily serious but they can be an indicator of underlying issues, and your team might suggest exploring them in more detail.
Fast access to specialists
Appointments confirmed within 24 hours.
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.
Treatment for complex conditions
Our complete breadth of expertise, focused on your child.
Location
Where can I get a gait assessment for my child?
We can carry out a detailed assessment of your child at The Portland Hospital, the UK’s only private hospital that specialises in the care of children.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Your child’s gait assessment with HCA UK
What to expect
We’re dedicated to making sure that your child feels safe, confident and comfortable throughout the process, and that you’re both given all the help and information you need.
Our expert paediatric orthopaedic consultants will listen to your concerns, assess your child’s movement patterns in detail and talk you both through any next steps or treatment that might be needed. You’ll be in expert and caring hands.
01
Initial consultation
The first step is to talk to one of our specialist paediatric orthopaedic consultants about any concerns you have about the way your child walks or moves, their movement and development in general, and any sporting or athletic activity they regularly take part in. Your consultant will ask about your child’s birth and development and their medical history before explaining the specifics of the gait assessment to you both.
02
Assessment
There’s no need to make any special preparations before the assessment itself. Your consultant will ask your child to walk, balance and move in different ways, talk to them about any pain or discomfort they have, and take detailed notes. It’s a good idea for your child to wear shorts and a t-shirt for the assessment so your consultant can easily assess their limbs.
If they see anything that deserves more detailed attention, they’ll recommend imaging tests such as an MRI or an X-ray to get a clearer idea. Those can often be done as part of the same appointment.
If they see anything that deserves more detailed attention, they’ll recommend imaging tests such as an MRI or an X-ray to get a clearer idea. Those can often be done as part of the same appointment.
03
Results
After the assessment and any imaging tests, your consultant will talk to you both about what they’ve found. If there are any issues with your child’s gait that require treatment or corrective action, they’ll explain the next steps in detail, and you’ll be able to ask questions and share any concerns.
04
Treatment
Every child is different, and treatment options can vary depending on their age, their general health and the specific issue identified in their gait assessment and any imaging test results. Your consultant will explain any specific treatment they may need in detail, including when and where it should happen, the treatment process itself, and any advice for recovery on continuing the treatment at home.
Your consultant may also advise that the situation is simply monitored to see if your child’s gait issues correct themselves as they develop and grow.
Your consultant may also advise that the situation is simply monitored to see if your child’s gait issues correct themselves as they develop and grow.
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Gait assessment in children FAQ
The gait assessment test is a very common test which can help your consultant confirm or rule out a wide range of conditions, from minor developmental delays that can easily be corrected to more serious musculoskeletal and neurological issues. It can help identify challenges such as joint displacement or arthritis, and neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. Your consultant will usually use it in conjunction with other tests and scans to get a full picture of your child’s condition and help get them on the right treatment pathway.
The whole process usually takes around one to two hours in total. That time includes talking to you and your child about their specific health and any concerns, the walking and balance tests, taking detailed physical measurements, special tests and chances to rest.
Yes, we can. If your child’s gait assessment identifies issues that can benefit from physiotherapy, we have dedicated specialists and teams who can help build strength, increase mobility and correct your child’s walk. Your consultant and a physiotherapist will help you decide if it’s the right decision for your child and explain the process in detail.
If your child’s gait is being affected by neurological issues, your consultant and the team will work with other paediatric specialists to deliver focused, specific care. We take a multi-disciplinary approach that combines expertise and considers every aspect of your child’s treatment and wellbeing.
“The whole team are lovely – and so great with children and teens.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.