TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparing the applicability of temporal gait symmetry, variability and laterality in bilateral gait conditions
T2 - A feasibility study of healthy individuals and people with diabetic neuropathy
AU - Tan, Adin Ming
AU - Weizman, Yehuda
AU - van Netten, Jaap J.
AU - Fuss, Franz Konstantin
N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/1/1
Y1 - 2022/1/1
N2 - Background: Gait symmetry is used to measure pathological gait but is usually applied to unilateral pathology. This study aims to investigate bilateral impairment using existing and new gait symmetry methods. Methods: 15 healthy volunteers and 14 people with diabetes and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy participated in this study. Three temporal parameters (combined step, stance phase and double stance), expressed as a percentage, were extracted for comparing gait symmetry between healthy volunteers and patients using in-shoe measurements (Pedar-X). Three indices were calculated, including the widely used Symmetry Index; the well-established Variability Index; and the newly developed Laterality Index, that calculates how well distributed a condition is across both legs. Findings: In all three parameters, Symmetry and Variability Index proved to be significantly greater in the diabetic cohort (p-values range < 0.001–0.0226). The Laterality Index was significantly greater in the diabetic cohort for the stance and double stance phases (p-values 0.03 and < 0.001), but not for the combined step (p-value 0.3953). In both cohorts, Laterality Index <1 (fractional laterality) was associated with small Symmetry Index data, whereas in large Symmetry Index data, the Laterality Index was 1 (unilateral condition). Interpretations: Gait symmetry and variability are useful tools for quantifying locomotion and the effects of aging and diseases. We have shown the ability of these two indices in differentiating two extreme groups of individuals. For cases with small Symmetry Index, the current method of using an arbitrary value is not ideal. The newly developed Laterality Index can be used to decide on the cut-off between symmetrical and asymmetrical gait.
AB - Background: Gait symmetry is used to measure pathological gait but is usually applied to unilateral pathology. This study aims to investigate bilateral impairment using existing and new gait symmetry methods. Methods: 15 healthy volunteers and 14 people with diabetes and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy participated in this study. Three temporal parameters (combined step, stance phase and double stance), expressed as a percentage, were extracted for comparing gait symmetry between healthy volunteers and patients using in-shoe measurements (Pedar-X). Three indices were calculated, including the widely used Symmetry Index; the well-established Variability Index; and the newly developed Laterality Index, that calculates how well distributed a condition is across both legs. Findings: In all three parameters, Symmetry and Variability Index proved to be significantly greater in the diabetic cohort (p-values range < 0.001–0.0226). The Laterality Index was significantly greater in the diabetic cohort for the stance and double stance phases (p-values 0.03 and < 0.001), but not for the combined step (p-value 0.3953). In both cohorts, Laterality Index <1 (fractional laterality) was associated with small Symmetry Index data, whereas in large Symmetry Index data, the Laterality Index was 1 (unilateral condition). Interpretations: Gait symmetry and variability are useful tools for quantifying locomotion and the effects of aging and diseases. We have shown the ability of these two indices in differentiating two extreme groups of individuals. For cases with small Symmetry Index, the current method of using an arbitrary value is not ideal. The newly developed Laterality Index can be used to decide on the cut-off between symmetrical and asymmetrical gait.
KW - Diabetes
KW - Gait
KW - Laterality
KW - Symmetry
KW - Temporal
KW - Variability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119349769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105530
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2021.105530
M3 - Article
C2 - 34808428
SN - 0268-0033
VL - 91
JO - Clinical Biomechanics
JF - Clinical Biomechanics
M1 - 105530
ER -