Whenever there are changes in the gait pattern the body is compensating for some deficit. These include; muscle weakness, contractures and / or spasticity; joint instability or contracture; skeletal instability and / or shortening. The body compensates by:
Using GRF to prevent the joints from collapsing.
Positioning C of G over the base of support.
Using alternative (compensatory) body movements to move limb segments.
It is important to decide which is the primary gait deviation (direct result of the musculoskeletal deficit) and which the secondary or compensatory gait deviation is.
Orthotic correction of the primary gait deviation may resolve the compensatory gait deviation.