Repeatability and variability of baropodometric and spatio-temporal gait parameters – Results in healthy subjects and in stroke patients

Abstract

Our purpose was to determine the repeatability and variability of baropodometric and spatio-temporal gait parameters in both hemiparetic patients and healthy subjects. parameters with a good repeatability and a low variability could be used to follow gait evolution. Twelve stroke patients and 10 healthy subjects were included. Each participant performed trials (F-Scan® system and Bessou Locometer) at 48 h intervals under identical conditions. The following parameters were analyzed: displacement of the center of pressure (COP), peaks of pressure under forefoot and hindfoot, step length, single and double support time, and walking velocity. Comparisons were made within and between sessions, inter-trials and between sides. Neither visit effects in either population nor side effects in healthy subjects were observed. Repeatability assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient ("ICC agreement" ICC) was excellent to adequate overtime for anterior-posterior (AP) displacement of the COP, step length, simple support time and walking velocity in both hemiparetic patients (ICC 0.92; 0.84; 0.91; 0.94) and healthy subjects (ICC 0.85; 0.44; 0.64; 0.56). The coefficient of variation (CV) was low in paretic side for AP and single support time, and at a less degree for the lateral deviation of the COP (ML) and the posterior margin (PM). In this study, baropodometric (AP and PM) and spatio-temporal gait (step length, single support time and walking velocity) parameters were found to show good repeatability overtime; these parameters are the ones most likely to be useful in assessing the effects of treatments that are proposed to improve gait in stroke patients.