Children's Hospital Colorado

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New patients and families can schedule appointments for this department online. Existing patients can schedule their follow-up visits through MyChart.
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What to Expect for Your Child’s Gait or Sports Analysis

We care for patients’ growing muscles, joints and bones through sports medicine, surgery, rehabilitation and research.

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720-777-5805

Once you receive a referral from your child’s primary doctor, you can make an appointment at the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis at the Orthopedic Institute. After you’ve made the appointment, this information can help you prepare for your visit.

We offer two appointment types: gait analysis and sports analysis.

What is the difference between a gait analysis and sports analysis?

With both tests, our team may identify problems with posture or movement and can recommend further treatment, assistive devices or orthotics. 

The lab itself resembles a movie studio, with blue walls and photographic lighting to provide the best environment for recording movement. Many kids enjoy getting to dress up in the movement sensors and being turned into a so-called “robot.” Plus, they can choose a toy to take home at the end of their appointment.

What is a gait analysis?

For your child’s gait analysis, our team studies how they walk or run through observation and tests such as motion capture or dynamic electromyography. These tests help identify abnormalities in movement and capture specific traits of how your child walks. Learning about the specific way your child walks can help us assess neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

What is a sports analysis?

Similar to a gait analysis, a sports analysis uses 3D motion analysis and observation to assess your child’s performance and movement. A sports analysis can be useful to elevate performance or ensure they are moving correctly after an injury. The analysis can include doing squats, jumps and running activities depending on where your child is in their rehabilitation.

Prepare for your child’s movement analysis visit

Before the appointment, read through general information about a visit to Children’s Hospital Colorado. We want you and your child to be prepared as possible on the day of their appointment. You will receive a link to a pre-visit questionnaire on MyChart to complete before your child’s visit. Our physical therapists will review the questionnaire before your Gait Lab visit and can help streamline your child’s visit. If you have any questions, reach out to us at 720-777-5805.

What to wear to a Gait and Movement Lab visit

Your care team will need to easily see your child’s torso, hips and knees to complete testing. For your visit, we recommend your child wears comfortable (but tight) clothing that allows flexibility such as:

  • Athletic shorts
  • A tight-fitting athletic shirt that can be tucked into shorts
  • A leotard or bathing suit that can be tucked into shorts
  • Athletic tennis shoes that allow your child to jump and run

What to bring to your child’s Gait and Movement Lab visit

The movement analysis process can take several hours, so it’s important to stay hydrated and bring any devices your child may need to walk or train. Please bring the following to your child’s visit:

  • Patient questionnaire
  • Water bottle and snacks
  • Any braces, shoe inserts or assistive devices needed for mobility or sports performance, which can include a walker, crutches, canes or a gait trainer

Steps in gait and sports analysis studies

A typical pediatric gait analysis takes up to three hours. A sports analysis generally takes one hour. During this time, we strive to make testing as interactive as possible. Parents are welcome to stay with their child during the analysis.

Support and resources for your family

Child life services

Some children need extra support during their Gait Lab visit. Child life specialists are experts who provide additional education, support and distraction during medical visits. Many times, child life specialists can join for some of your child’s visit. If you think it would be helpful to have a child life specialist for your visit, please contact us at 720 777-5805 prior to your visit.

Creative Play Center for siblings

We like to keep the study room calm, quiet and free of distractions. If you have other children with you on the day of the appointment, you are welcome to contact our Creative Play Center at 720-777-6999 for a free and safe play area.