Biomechanics and Gait Retraining: An Evidence-Informed Approach for Osteopathic Practice
Human gait is one of the most complex and revealing movement patterns observed in clinical practice. Subtle changes in stride length, cadence, joint loading, and neuromuscular control can significantly influence how forces are distributed through the lower limb and spine.
This CPD lecture explores the biomechanics of gait and the clinical application of gait retraining strategies within an osteopathic rehabilitation framework. Drawing on current Level 1–2 evidence, including systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials, the session examines how cadence modification, impact retraining, and task-specific gait training can influence biomechanics and functional outcomes across musculoskeletal and neurological populations.
The lecture also addresses important clinical considerations such as patient selection, red flag screening, and the integration of gait retraining with strengthening, load management, and osteopathic manual therapy. Practical clinical reasoning examples are used to demonstrate how gait assessment findings can inform safe and effective rehabilitation planning.
This module is designed for osteopaths and allied health practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of gait biomechanics and apply evidence-informed movement retraining strategies in clinical practice.
Learning Format: Audio lecture, downloadable summary, quiz, and certificate of completion.