A simple method to measure gait for use in arthritis clinical research

This report describes and discusses a simple, inexpensive method to quantify step length, stride width, cadence (steps per minute), and velocity (centimeters per second) for use as outcome measures in arthritis clinical trials. The method involves footprint recordings taken during gait on pressure-sensitive paper. Data from 42 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee and a brief review of the literature suggest that gait measurements using this method are reliable, valid, and practical.