There are several components to the assessment.

• Our laboratory is equipped with 5 infrared video cameras that simultaneously record walking patterns. Each person analyzed walks along a walkyway wearing a number of reflective balls placed on the joints of the arms and legs to assist data collection.
  
• EMG data is collected at the same time as the videotaping through surface electrodes taped over the major muscles used for walking. EMG is simply a recording of the electrical activity of muscles as they contract while walking.
  
• We measure ground reaction force as the person walks over the two forceplates that are built into the walkway. Ground reaction force is a measure of the forces that the body creates while walking.
  
• The energy cost of walking is measured by a "metabolic cart." Clients will breathe through a tube while walking up and down the hall. As the person breathes out, we can determine how efficiently the body uses oxygen, and therefore, the amount of energy being used to walk.
  
• A complete physiotherapy assessment is part of our gait analysis procedure. This includes measurements of joint range of motion, strength, muscle tone and gross motor function.
  
• Prior to gait analysis in the lab the client would have had a clinical assessment done at TVCC Orthopaedic clinic by the consultant Orthopaedist.

All of the information from the first four components is fed into a computer which in turn puts it together and provides the information in a readable format.