Concurrent validity of the Microsoft Kinect for Windows v2 for measuring spatiotemporal gait parameters

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Analysis
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Gait analysis is crucial for assessing mobility and detecting neurological disorders.
• Accurate measurement of spatiotemporal gait parameters is essential for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
• Existing gait analysis systems can be expensive and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concurrent validity and reliability of the Microsoft Kinect for Windows v2 for measuring spatiotemporal gait parameters.
• To compare Kinect v2 measurements against a gold-standard GAITRite system.
• To assess the Kinect v2's performance under various walking conditions.

Main Methods:

• Twenty healthy adults walked under usual, fast, and dual-task conditions.
• Gait was simultaneously recorded using two Kinect for Windows v2 devices and a GAITRite mat.
• An automated algorithm extracted spatiotemporal parameters like stance time, step length, and gait velocity.
• Concurrent validity, reliability, and Bland-Altman limits of agreement were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The Kinect for Windows v2 showed narrow 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement across all tested gait parameters and conditions.
• Excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1: 0.9–0.98) were found for gait measures.
• Strong inter-trial reliability (ICC3,1 > 0.73) was observed for all gait parameters.

Conclusions:

• The Microsoft Kinect for Windows v2 is a valid tool for measuring spatiotemporal gait parameters in healthy adults.
• The system demonstrates high reliability and concurrent validity compared to the GAITRite system.
• Kinect v2 offers a promising, potentially more accessible, technology for gait analysis.