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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
Repeatability of temporospatial gait measures in children using the GAITRite electronic walkway
Deborah E Thorpe1, Stacey C Dusing, Charity G Moore
1Center for Human Movement Science, Division of Physical Therapy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7135, USA. dthorpe@med.unc.edu
Insights
The GAITRite walkway shows poor to excellent repeatability for assessing child gait parameters. Data in children aged 1.3-10.9 years is comparable to adult gait measurements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biomechanics
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Gait analysis is crucial for understanding child development and identifying abnormalities.
- The GAITRite electronic walkway is a tool used to measure gait parameters.
- Repeatability data in children is essential for its clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the repeatability of temporal and spatial gait parameters in healthy children using the GAITRite electronic walkway.
- To compare repeatability data in children to existing adult data.
Main Methods:
- An immediate test-retest design was employed with 57 healthy children (1.3-10.9 years old).
- Participants were stratified into three age groups.
- Two barefoot walks at preferred speed were recorded, and statistical analyses including ICC and CV were performed.
Main Results:
- Overall repeatability (ICC) ranged from 0.05 to 0.93.
- Clinically acceptable error (CV) was found for most gait variables.
- Exceptions included toe-in/out and heel-to-heel base of support variables, which showed higher variability.
Conclusions:
- The GAITRite walkway demonstrates variable but often acceptable repeatability for assessing temporospatial gait in children.
- Repeatability in children is comparable to that observed in adults.
- The GAITRite system shows promise as a clinical tool for pediatric gait assessment.
Objective:
To determine the repeatability of selected temporal and spatial gait parameters in healthy children using the GAITRite electronic walkway.
Design:
Immediate test-retest design.
Setting:
Community.
Participants:
A sample of 57 subjects (age range, 1.3-10.9 y) participated. Subjects were stratified into 3 age groups (1.0 to <4.0 years old, 4.0 to <8.0 years old, 8.0 to <11.0 years old).
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Subjects completed 2 barefooted test walks at preferred gait speed. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(1,1)) values, 95% confidence intervals, the Bland-Altman limits of agreement, and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated.
Results:
Overall, ICC values ranged from .05 to .93. The amount of clinically relevant error (CV) was acceptable for all gait variables across age groups with the exception of the toe-in/out variables (CV, 46.7%-92.9%) and the heel-to-heel base of support variable (CV, 18.6%-31.5%).
Conclusions:
Repeatability of GAITRite measurements to assess temporospatial gait parameters in typically developing children walking at self-selected paces ranged from poor to excellent. Our repeatability data for child subjects between the ages of 1.3 to 10.9 years are comparable to adult data for the same temporospatial gait parameters. We believe that the GAITRite electronic walkway is an emerging clinical tool for assessment of gait in children with and without disabilities.
