Motion clinic might help pinpoint pain

Emily Slaven, physical therapist

Midwest HealthStrategies

Q. I’m experiencing a recurring pain in my knee, I think it could be the way I walk, how can I find out?
A. The Motion Analysis & Rehabilitation Clinic, a joint effort between Midwest HealthStrategies and Ball State University offers many services that can pinpoint any movement you may be doing that is causing the recurring pain.

Gait analysis is our most common form of motion analysis. We use specialized technology to accurately detect small changes in the walking pattern due to injury, disease processes, or rehabilitative surgery. Once we’ve documented this information, it can then be used as a guide to treatment with physical or occupational therapy to help restore a person’s normal movement pattern and the ability to perform daily functional tasks.

Q. What do you mean when you say Gait analysis?
A. Gait analysis refers to a process of evaluating a person’s movement patterns. Many gait abnormalities are complex and involve very subtle movements that are difficult to identify. Using three dimensional motion capture technology, key characteristics of an individual’s motion pattern can be analyzed.

Q. What is a normal motion analysis session like?
A. Reflective markers are attached to the body and then movements are performed that simulate the movements that are problematic for the patient. In the Motion Analysis Lab, 10 cameras record their movements to detect any small change.

Q. Once that data is assembled, what happens?
Referring physicians, therapists and other specialists can then use this data to determine the conditions and causes behind functional movement problems and develop optimal treatment plans.

Q. Who can benefit from this testing?
A. In many individuals, those aches and pains that they feel are just part of life, can be greatly reduced with the right changes in their daily movements. Once we are able to study the movements and pinpoint the problem areas, people are amazed at the reduction in pain they experience, simply by moving the correct way.

Q. What about the athletic enhancement services offered at the Motion Analysis Lab?
A. We also offer analysis of golf and baseball swinging motions and a cycling analysis. Our team provides analysis of physical fitness characteristics to assist the athlete with their technique and performance. These analyses are performed using the most advanced technology available for the study of human movement.

Just like the gait analysis, we can pinpoint the athlete’s fitness and/or technique that may be limiting their performance. Our team will then assist the athlete and/or coach to develop a targeted plan to address these performance issues.

Emily Slaven is a physical therapist at Midwest HealthStrategies. For more information on the Motion Analysis and Therapy Complex, call (765) 751-5228 or send an email to info@chsmail.org.

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