Gait analysis using a force-measuring gangway: intrasession repeatability in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to determine the repeatability of gait parameters measured by a force plate gait analysis system (Leonardo Mechanograph® GW).

METHODS: Fifteen healthy adult participants walked at a self-selected speed on a 10 m long walkway. Vertical ground reaction forces were measured in the central 6 m of the walkway. Each participant performed three trials while walking barefoot and three trials while wearing shoes, each trial consisting of three 10 m walks.

RESULTS: There were minimal differences between trials at each condition. All primary force, time, distance and velocity parameters had intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.90 and coefficients of variation in the order of 2% to 4%. Compared to walking barefoot, walking in shoes resulted in 14% lower maximal vertical ground reaction force, 5% longer step length and 2% higher average velocity and caused less lateral translation of the center of force.

CONCLUSIONS: In this group of healthy adults, gait analysis with a force plate system produced repeatable intra-day results. The observation that barefoot and shod walking yield different results indicates that it is important to standardize test conditions.