Article

Gait symmetry is often a goal for physiotherapy in patients with hip
osteoarthritis and after total hip replacement. However,
there is no agreement on
criteria for pathological gait asymmetry. In this study we investigated
discriminative abilities of trunk and footfall gait symmetry measures, and
thereafter assessed whether a 10% cutoff value is valid as a general criterion of
pathological gait asymmetry across measures. Anteroposterior, vertical, and
mediolateral trunk symmetry, single support, and step length symmetry were
obtained simultaneously by trunk accelerometry and an electronic walkway in 37
patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis and 56 controls. Subjects walked six
times along a 7-meter walkway at slow, preferred, and fast speed, before data
were normalized for gait velocity. Anteroposterior, vertical, and single support
symmetry measures showed best discriminating abilities.
The general 10% criterion
of gait asymmetry and optimal cutoff criteria calculated for each symmetry
measure showed approximately equal total classification ability. However, the
optimal cutoff criteria classified a high number of controls as having
pathological gait asymmetry.
The general criterion of 10% is valid with high
total classification ability, does not classify asymmetry in able-bodied subjects
as pathological, and is feasible for use on individual patients in the clinic as
well as in research.

Langue : ANGLAIS