Gait lab
Instrumental gait analysis is an essential examination procedure in orthopedics and features as an established must-have in our institution. We are a multidisciplinary, multilingual team of physicians, physiotherapists, orthopedic technicians and engineers, whose broad mission is to objectively measure and assess gait in order to improve functional mobility of children with a range of neurological and/or orthopedic disorders.
The team led by medical director Dr. med. Richard Doepner and technical head Dr. phil. Sonia D’Souza started assessing patients in 2013 and has since then analysed the gait pattern of over 500 patients.
What services do we offer?
Our main clientele is children and adults with neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy.
Patients are usually referred to the gait lab from the orthopedic consultation in the Olgahospital by our team of orthopedists with various questions:
- Initial assessments
- Operative indications
- Post-operative diagnostics to record the success of operative procedures
- Monitoring the gait development of young patients over time
- Proposal of well-founded therapeutic concepts
- Orthotic testing
We work closely with orthopedic technicians and manufacturers of orthotic devices and offer specialized consultation services to our patients.Within the realm of clinical gait, we offer a wide spectrum of services including:
- Pedobarography to measure static and dynamic pressure distribution under the foot
- Stand-alone 2D-video analysis
- Surface electromyogram (EMG) to depict muscle activation
- 3D full body, Multisegment foot, gait analysis
- In co-operation with our radiology department, a bilateral, full weight bearing static 3D-CT imaging (pedCAT™) coupled with 3D gait assessment
The 3D-analysis takes place over a two-day inpatient stay. We begin with a detailed clinical examination to measure joint flexibility, muscle strength, spasticity and muscle tonus. A photo documentation of the feet, shoes and orthotics is followed by a pedobarography. In the 3D instrumental analysis, markers are placed at strategic positions on the body to record static and dynamic movement of body segments. EMG sensors placed on different muscles synchronously record surface muscle activity. Data is collecting during multiple walks in the lab and a 3D-computer model is created. Complex computation of joint angles, joint moments and powers is performed. Gait cycles from individual trials are superimposed to create a representative walking pattern of the patient and reported against normative data. This procedure is carried out barefoot, with shoes and if necessary orthotics.
The outcomes of the analysis are collated into a report and evaluated within our inter-disciplinary team. The results and recommendations are communicated to the family and referring physicians.
How do I get a gait analysis?
Patients are referred to the gait lab exclusively over our orthopedic specialists. If you have trouble with walking and wish to make appointment please visit our international patient enquiry page.
For questions, please contact us at ganglabor@klinikum-stuttgart.de or call us at +49(0)711 278-72813.
Where are we located?
Our address is:
Ganglabor, Olgahospital, House M, Section C, 1st floor
Kriegsbergstraße 62, D-70174 Stuttgart
From the main entrance of the Olgahospital, take the flight of stairs to the first floor. Turn right, walk to the end of the main corridor past the SPZ on the right and the “Labor” on the left. Turn right again to find the waiting area of the Ganglabor and “Betriebsarzt”. We will be happy to receive you here.
