Following a neurological injury, rehabilitation of gait is commonly stated as the primary goal for many. At NRG, our therapists are equipped to retrain your movement back to standing, stepping, walking or even running. This is the case whether your injury is from birth, a few months old or is progressive in nature.  

Gait retraining helps individuals regain their mobility and independence. At NRG, your therapist will complete a thorough assessment of your functional abilities which may include assessing your ability to roll, sit, stand, walk or climb stairs. They may look at your leg strength and power, range of motion, movement coordination, sensation, spasticity, muscle length or balance. 

For many, gait retraining is complex and requires a variety of therapy interventions to improve this may include: 

• Retraining of sit to stand and standing which may require use of standing frame, tilt table device or back slab plaster.

• Part practice gait retraining such as regaining the ability to shift your weight from your middle to the right or left leg. It may also focus on controlling the movement in your knee, hip or ankle or involve the therapist directly facilitating your leg or trunk as you practice walking  

• Overground walking sling practice in which you are supported in a harness within the gym to walk with a therapist  

• Treadmill training with or without a hardness for support for repetitive practice of walking  

• Visual, tactile, attention or verbal cues to assist with initiating movement  

• Lower limb strength and power training including power gym, trampoline, reformer and weight training 

• Sensory retraining

• Balance and coordination training which may include use of wobble boards, foam, obstacle courses or dual tasking activities  

• Cardiovascular training to assist in supporting you to regain your physical endurance and manage fatigue. This may also include a joint referral to our exercise physiology team

• Hydrotherapy

• Consideration of focal spasticity treatment in consultation with your neurologist

• Referral to an orthotist or our orthotics clinic to consider bracing, a custom orthotic or functional electrical stimulation device to support your walking.

• Prescription of a mobility aid where required such as a Nordic walking poles, walking stick or variety of different walking frames 

• Carer training of your support worker or loved one to assist you to move as safely as possible at home  

• Home exercise program prescription to support you to build on your movement outside of the clinic