Extract - Gait analysis has been used as a research tool for many years, but is only now starting to come into routine clinical use. With recent improvements in technology, however, motion analysis is being used more and more frequently in two major areas, the evaluation of the high-performance athlete, and the treatment/decision-making process in the neuromuscularly handicapped patient. In the former group, the object is to further improve already exceptional performance. In the latter group, the object is to bring subnormal performance up to the best possible level. Although the two groups have vastly different goals, motion analysis for both has similar requirements in most circumstances.