Middleton Hall Retirement Village recently welcomed Dr Diana Hodgins MBE, Founder and CEO of GaitSmart, for an engaging talk titled The Science of Walking.
Residents and members of the Health & Wellbeing Centre attended the session, which explored how movement and mobility can be better understood and improved through modern gait analysis.
Dr Hodgins introduced GaitSmart, an innovative mobility assessment system that uses wearable sensors to analyse how people walk. The technology identifies early signs of muscle weakness or joint issues, helping to highlight potential mobility concerns before they become more serious.
A key message of the talk was prevention. Dr Hodgins explained that mobility is often only assessed once problems have developed, despite its importance to independence and wellbeing. She highlighted how GaitSmart’s personalised assessments and exercise plans can support strength, stability, and movement, helping to reduce the risk of falls.
Following the talk, attendees had the opportunity to take part in the GaitSmart assessment themselves, as well as join an interactive Q&A session where Dr Hodgins answered questions about individual results and the science behind the system.
GaitSmart is now available at Middleton Hall’s Health & Wellbeing Centre for both residents and non-residents, offering a proactive way to support mobility and long-term wellbeing.
More information can be found on our Health & Wellbeing page HERE
