Decode the Walk: Clinical Gait Analysis Made Simple
Hosted by the Neurology SIG
Virtual
Eligible for Continuing Education Hours
Develop the skills to confidently observe, describe, and interpret human gait using the internationally recognized Rancho Los Amigos Gait Analysis System. This comprehensive course provides a structured approach to understanding the gait cycle, normal biomechanics, and common gait deviations while linking movement impairments to neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Participants will learn the eight phases of the Rancho gait cycle, expected joint positions and muscle activation patterns, temporal-spatial gait parameters, and key observational techniques for clinical practice. Through real-world case studies and practical gait analysis, clinicians will strengthen their ability to identify movement dysfunctions, communicate findings using standardized terminology, and develop targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Ideal for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students, this course bridges foundational biomechanics with practical clinical application to improve patient assessment and treatment planning.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
– Define gait and explain the principles of observational gait analysis.
– Describe the eight phases of the Rancho Los Amigos gait cycle.
– Identify normal joint kinematics and muscle activation throughout gait.
– Recognize common gait deviations and relate them to underlying impairments.
– Analyze temporal-spatial gait characteristics, including cadence, step length, stride length, velocity, gait speed, and symmetry.
– Apply Rancho terminology to neurological and orthopedic populations.
– Use structured gait analysis and outcome measures to improve clinical communication, documentation, establish medical necessity, and treatment planning through patient case studies.
This course combines evidence-based biomechanics with practical clinical reasoning, giving rehabilitation professionals a standardized framework for evaluating gait and translating observations into effective interventions.
Presented by:
Jenna San Antonio, PT, DPT, CBIS, CEEAA and Carrie Faulkner, PT, DPT, NCS
Jenna San Antonio is a physical therapist with 14 years of clinical experience across a variety of settings. Her background includes 10 years in acute rehabilitation, 3 years in school-based physical therapy, and 1 year in outpatient rehabilitation. Jenna has a strong passion for working with individuals with neurologic disorders and has dedicated much of her career to helping this patient population achieve their functional goals. She holds certifications as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS), Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA), and is LSVT BIG® Certified, specializing in evidence-based treatment approaches for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurologic conditions. She currently is a physical therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation in East Greenwich
Carrie Faulkner is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapist with 10 years of experience treating patients with neurologic conditions in a variety of patient settings including acute care, inpatient, and outpatient rehabilitation. She is currently a clinical supervisor and physical therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation in East Greenwich, and she also serves as a neurology lab instructor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Johnson & Wales University. She specializes in the treatment of traumatic and acquired brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, concussion, and vestibular conditions.