History of Gait Modification Therapy
19th Century – Emergence of Formal Study
Pioneers – Introduction of biomechanics in rehab; studies on posture and locomotion begin
Military rehab – gain analysis used to help wounded soldiers recover mobility
20th Century
Early – Birth of Physical Therapy
Polio – Rise in gait modification techniques to assist patients
Prosthetics and Orthotics – Development of assistive devices and braces to improve walking patterns
Mid – Scientific and Technological Advancements
Laboratory Gait Analysis – Introduction of force plates and video analysis to assess gait
Rehab programs – Gait retraining incorporated into physical therapy and occupational therapy
Late – Biomechanics and Customized Therapy
Computerized Motion Capture
Personalized Intervention
21st Century – Sophisticated Analysis, AI and Intelligent Devices in Gait Therapy
Gait Modification Therapy – How does it work?
Improves Movement
Optimizes foot/ground contact to reduce and normalize forces acting on the ankle, knee and hip
Normalizes joint loads, allowing more physiologic joint function
More physiologic joint function leads to more natural coordination of muscle activity
Kaya D, Guney-Deniz H, Sayaca C, Calik M, Doral MN. Effects on Lower Extremity Neuromuscular Control Exercises on Knee Proprioception, Muscle Strength, and Functional Level in Patients with ACL Reconstruction. Biomed Res Int. 2019 Nov 15;2019:1694695.
Espejo-Antúnez L, Pérez-Mármol JM, Cardero-Durán MLÁ, Toledo-Marhuenda JV, Albornoz-Cabello M. The Effect of Proprioceptive Exercises on Balance and Physical Function in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Oct;101(10):1780-1788. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.06.010.
Neuromuscular Training
Subtle instability provides a powerful signal for muscle recruitment optimization
Improves gait speed and symmetry
Improves balance and stability
Keller M, Roth R, Achermann S, Faude O. Learning a new balance task: The influence of prior motor practice on training adaptations. Eur J Sport Sci. 2023 May;23(5):809-817. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2022.2053751.
Giboin LS, Gruber M, Kramer A. Motor learning of a dynamic balance task: Influence of lower limb power and prior balance practice. J Sci Med Sport. 2019 Jan;22(1):101-105. doi: 10.1016/ j.jsams.2018.05.029.
Relieves Pain
Changing force through joints and soft tissues
Unloading painful structures, loading non-painful structures
Pain inhibition through spinal cord reflexes
Presynaptic inhibition of pain neurons in the spinal cord by mechanoreceptors
Pain inhibition from higher cortical pathways
Descending inhibition from the cortex
Serotonergic pathway
Enkephalinergic pathway
Noradreneric pathway
Coelho VK, Gomes BSQ, Lopes TJA, Corrêa LA, Telles GF, Nogueira LAC. Knee proprioceptive function and physical performance of patients with patellofemoral pain: A matched case-control study. Knee. 2021 Dec;33:49-57. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2021.08.031.
Comitato A, Bardoni R. Presynaptic Inhibition of Pain and Touch in the Spinal Cord: From Receptors to Circuits. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 2;22(1):414. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010414.
Utilizes advanced physical and computerized gait analysis to quantify: • Painful regions of the joint • Center of Pressure • Stride Length • Stride Speed • Single Leg Stand Time • 100+ additional data points
Information guides adjustment of patent-pending, contoured outsole specific to patients needs
Process results in a personalized, prescription footworn biomechanical device to be worn by the patient at home as part of a therapy protocol
Patients utilize the therapy by wearing the footwear in the home, for 15–30 minutes per day during normal daily activities
Patients’ activity and progress is recorded and tracked via sensors and remote monitoring
Provides patients an opportunity to:
Avoid and/or delay surgery for joint pain
Reduce or eliminate prescription medication for pain
Improve quality of life and mobility
Keep up with loved ones’ activities – don’t get left behind
Improve night pain for better sleep and recovery
Enjoy the convenience of at-home therapy
Apply SciMoTech therapy in the comfort of one’s own home
Avoid bridges burned
Completely non-invasive, non-surgical therapy