Having arthritis in the back, hips, knees, and ankles can mess one’s posture and gait. It can make standing straight and walking quite difficult.
What is a Gait and How Does Arthritis Affect It?
There are two phases of a gait – the stance phase and the swing phase. The stance phase is when your foot is on the ground. The swing phase is where the foot is off the ground. Both phases can be severely affected when arthritis is present in the knee and hips. Pain, stiffness, and weakness are common painful complaints.
When there is arthritis in the feet, your gait will change to compensate to allow free movement. Abnormal gaits are quite common when it hurts to put weight on your hip, knee, or foot. For example, one may unconsciously shortening the stance phase, or less time on the weight-bearing stage in a gait cycle. That is referred to as an antalgic gait, although more commonly known as a limp.
Patients with arthritis in the knee and hip often have poor balance and are unable to stand on only one leg. This is important in a gait cycle and poor balance will negatively affect your gait. This results in a pattern called a Trendelenberg gait. When this muscle weakness occurs, the pelvis drops on one side when lifting the opposite leg.
Arthritis patients tend to walk more slowly because of these additional challenges.
Poor Posture, How it Affects Arthritis, and How to Fix It
Having poor posture negatively affects the body’s joints, muscles, and circulation. Sitting and standing properly help ensure that the body is able to function.
Ignoring your posture can affect your health and create strain on the neck, shoulders, back, and cause joint damage. While the pain may be dismissed, it is something to be wary of.
Poor posture forces the muscles in your neck, shoulder, back and hip to become overworked. Leading to inflammation and arthritis that may affects those joints.
Ways to Promote Better Posture & Proper Gait
- Stay Active: Regardless of whether you sit or stand at work, it is important to move regularly. Take short breaks to prevent muscles from becoming fatigued. Standing or even moving slightly while standing can help your muscles and joints stay active.
- Exercise: Preventing arthritis is impossible, however it is possible to slow symptoms and the body’s reaction to it. Strengthening muscles around joints such as the hips, knees, and ankles help improve balance and is key to preventing arthritis-related gait abnormalities. An exercise program such as tai chi, yoga, barre, or Pilates are excellent choices.
- Assistive Devices: If you suffer from poor posture or gait changes, it may be beneficial to use a cane or walker to help prevent a limp or poor balance. Cane can help improve stability and allow one to walk without favoring a side in pain. Devices such as these can help maintain mobility and independence.
Contact ArthritisVIP.com to see how our team can help your posture and gait to get more active.
