Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of joint pain and mobility issues, particularly in the knees and hips. At Worthing Osteopathic & Wellbeing Clinic, we understand how deeply this condition can affect everyday life—from walking and climbing stairs to simply getting out of bed in the morning.
But there’s good news. Advances in gait analysis technology, paired with skilled manual therapy, now offer a powerful way to assess, understand, and manage osteoarthritis more effectively than ever before.
Understanding Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Hip
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that results from the breakdown of cartilage. As the cartilage wears down, bones begin to rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. The hips and knees are particularly vulnerable due to the weight-bearing nature of these joints and the stress they endure during walking, running, or standing.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain during or after movement
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
- Loss of flexibility or range of motion
- Grinding or clicking sensations in the joint
- Swelling and inflammation
These symptoms can make daily tasks challenging and often lead to compensatory movement patterns—changing the way you walk without even realising it.
Why Gait Analysis Matters for Osteoarthritis
When someone develops OA, they often unknowingly alter their walking pattern to avoid pain. This change in movement—called gait compensation—can actually worsen symptoms over time or lead to issues in other areas, such as the lower back, opposite hip, or ankle.
This is where gait analysis comes in. At Worthing Osteopathic & Wellbeing Clinic, we use clinical gait assessment to uncover exactly how OA is affecting your movement. This goes far beyond just observing how you walk. It’s a detailed, data-driven look at:
- Step length and stride
- Foot placement and weight distribution
- Hip and knee joint angles
- Walking speed and rhythm
- Muscle imbalances or asymmetries
Our in-house manual therapist specialises in assessing gait in the context of joint conditions like osteoarthritis. Using both observation and objective tools, she gathers precise information that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
What Our Therapist Looks For — And What That Means for You
By analysing your gait, our therapist gains insight into which joints are overcompensating, which muscles are underactive or tight, and how your body is adapting to pain. This information is crucial for:
- Understanding the progression of your OA
- Identifying the root causes of pain or dysfunction
- Preventing further joint stress or damage
- Developing a tailored treatment plan based on your unique movement patterns
Rather than relying solely on imaging or generalised approaches, gait analysis provides real-world insight into how you move—and what you need to move better.
How We Help: The Next Steps After Gait Analysis
Once the assessment is complete, your manual therapist will create a customised treatment plan designed to support joint health and reduce OA symptoms. This may include:
- Hands-on osteopathic techniques to release tension, improve alignment, and restore joint mobility
- Targeted exercise programs to strengthen key muscles and improve joint support
- Postural and movement education to reduce stress on the affected joints
- Lifestyle and footwear advice to support comfort and joint protection in everyday life
For many patients, making even small changes to the way they walk or stand can lead to significant improvements in pain levels, balance, and confidence.
Empowering You to Walk with Confidence Again
At Worthing Osteopathic & Wellbeing Clinic, our goal is to help you regain control over your movement and quality of life. Gait analysis gives us the tools to not only understand your pain—but to act on it in meaningful, measurable ways.
If you or a loved one is living with knee or hip osteoarthritis, don’t wait for it to worsen. Book a consultation with our manual therapist and take your first step toward walking better, feeling stronger, and living with less pain.