The human gait pattern is defined as the way people walk and balance. This gait pattern is responsible for our ability to maintain an upright posture. In older adults, proper gait and good balance are essential in performing the normal activities of daily living – one of the most important of these being walking. In addition, gait and balance training is extremely important in fall prevention. Balance is the ability of the body to quickly respond to a situation, such as an uneven walking surface, and to safely right itself. The components of the balance system include the visual system (eyes and head), the vestibular system (the inner ear) and the somatosensory system (the skin, muscles, joints and nerves). Gait and balance exercises are used to challenge and improve all of these systems.
