Validity of visually recorded temporal-distance measures at selected walking velocities for gait analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of measures of temporal distance in a clinical analysis of gait. Data were collected from 15 normal subjects by one examiner. Equipment consisted of a 10-meter laminated walking track, dictaphone, metronome, and ink markers. The number of errors at four walking speeds were examined using a standardized analysis of gait. Analysis of variance showed a significant number of errors between the first and last halves of the measurement distance and among the four walking velocities. Post hoc analysis using the Scheffé test indicated significant differences in the mean number of errors at the velocities of 60 and 75 versus 25 and 40 m.min-1. An F test for simple effects indicated a significant number of errors occurred during the second half of the measured distance and at walking velocities of 60 and 75 m.min-1. These results indicate that the gait analysis is valid for measurements taken at all of the walking velocities only when recorded over a three-meter distance and only at the velocities of 25 and 40 m.min-1 over a six-meter distance.