Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine what kind of parameter should be observed and analyzed for evaluating gait symmetry in clinical setting. In this study, we particularly investigated step length, single stance duration, and single swing duration in gait symmetry toward people without impairment. Participants in this study were nine females without neuro-motor impairment and/or disorders. They walked on a 10m walkway with a comfortable speed in a laboratory. Three-dimension motion analysis was conducted to collect and analyze step length, single stance duration, and single swing duration of bilateral lower limbs. Statistical analysis for gait symmetry that were used were the paired t-test, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient and symmetry index in step length, single stance and swing duration. The result of the present study suggested that no significant differences between limbs showed in step length, single stance duration, and single swing duration. In addition, correlations are higher in step length and single stance duration than in single swing duration. The symmetry index was small in the order corresponding to single stance duration, step length, and single swing duration. In conclusion, single stance duration was the closest to symmetry in these parameters and was superior as a gait variable of gait symmetry. We further should examine gait variables to establish observational gait analysis.
