Temporal Gait Analysis Using Slow Motion Video and a Personal Computer

Abstract

A technique for measuring the temporal components of human gait using a standard video recorder and a personal computer is presented. Its basis is to videotape a subject walking and to replay the tape in slow motion. This allows the key events of make and break of foot-floor contact, which define the temporal phases of the gait cycle, to be clearly separated and distinguished. The mouse button is used as the input device to the personal computer which records the relative times of the key events and from them calculates the temporal phases as percentages of stride time. The reliability and validity of the technique were tested using healthy subjects walking at self-selected slow, medium and fast walking speeds. The relatively low equipment cost, ease of use and speed of data collection suggest that the technique could be an asset in the assessment of gait by clinicians. A technique for measuring the temporal components of human gait using a standard video recorder and a personal computer is presented. Its basis is to videotape a subject walking and to replay the tape in slow motion. This allows the key events of make and break of foot-floor contact, which define the temporal phases of the gait cycle, to be clearly separated and distinguished. The mouse button is used as the input device to the personal computer which records the relative times of the key events and from them calculates the temporal phases as percentages of stride time. The reliability and validity of the technique were tested using healthy subjects walking at self-selected slow, medium and fast walking speeds. The relatively low equipment cost, ease of use and speed of data collection suggest that the technique could be an asset in the assessment of gait by clinicians.