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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
3D Kinematic Gait Analysis for Preclinical Studies in Rodents
Published on: August 3, 2019
Three dimensional multi-segmental trunk kinematics and kinetics during gait: Test-retest reliability and minimal
Rita Fernandes1, Paulo Armada-da-Silva2, Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard3
1Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, CIPER, LBMF, Estrada da Costa, 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada, Dafundo, Portugal; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal, Campus do Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Estefanilha, Edifício ESCE, 2914-503 Setúbal, Portugal.
Background And Aim:
Trunk kinematics and kinetics can contribute to more detailed information on gait impairment, however, data about reliability and measurement error of multi-segment trunk on three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) is lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate test-retest reliability and MDC of 3DGA kinematic and kinetic data in a sample of healthy individuals, using a two rigid segment model for the trunk.
Methods:
A test-retest study with a median interval of 7 days and a sample of 23 healthy individuals was conducted. Anthropometric, time-distance parameters and peak values for lower limb and trunk joint angles/moments were computed. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,k), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC) and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated.
Results:
We found acceptable test-retest reliability for most joint angles and a SEM ≤4°. The ICCs were above 0.7 for joint moments and the SEM and MDC were ≤0.2Nm/kg and ≤0.6Nm/kg, respectively. Bland-Altman plots with 95% LOA revealed a good agreement and time-distance parameters were all highly repeatable (majority ICCs>0.90).
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest varied reliability indices for multi-segment trunk joint angles and moments during gait and an acceptable level of error, particularly for sagittal plane parameters. Some parameters showed wide 95% CIs for ICCs and higher SEM%. However, we believe that this study provides preliminary data regarding reliability indices for multi-segment trunk during gait, which may be valuable for clinical reasoning and decision making when dealing with movement disorders.
