Letter “g” is for GAIT!
From an occupational therapy standpoint, gait promotes functional mobility. For individuals who can walk, gait provides opportunities to explore the environment and complete tasks within the environment as needed.
It important to note that occupational therapists look at gait from a functional perspective. Is the individual able to ambulate to the bathroom without falling? Can they move around the kitchen to prepare a meal? Can a child ambulate from the classroom to the bus or playground? Gait assessments and gait improvements are in the realm of physical therapy, not OT; therefore, gait issues alone should be referred to PT. From a functional standpoint, OTs investigate how one’s gait affects one’s ability to complete necessary and meaningful tasks.
I leave you today with a picture of my friends walking (proper gait and all) which from a functional standpoint allowed them to get from lunch back to class.
