Execution
- 1Ask the patient to walk along a straight path at a comfortable speed.
- 2Observe the angle of each foot relative to the line of progression.
- 3Note toe-in, neutral, or toe-out gait and whether the symptomatic side differs.
- 4Ask whether the patient’s familiar hip or groin pain changes with the observed gait pattern.
- 5Cue a more neutral foot position and reassess pain response.
Positive outcome
Excessive toe-out or altered foot progression on the symptomatic side may be abnormal when it reproduces or modifies hip / groin symptoms. In FAI / labrum presentations, gait rotation may be a compensation to avoid impingement or labral irritation. Observation alone is not diagnostic.
CommentThis is the same walking observation slug used in the microinstability section, but here it is interpreted as a possible labral or intra-articular hip symptom modifier. Foot progression angle is strongly influenced by femoral version, tibial torsion, foot posture, and habit. Value remains low without a validated diagnostic threshold.
Low Clinical Value