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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Relationship Between Transverse-plane Kinematic Deviations of Lower Limbs and Gait Performance in Children with
1Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, Collage of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Hip rotation anomalies significantly impact gait velocity and spatial symmetry in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Foot progression angle and ankle rotation also affect temporal gait symmetry.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Transverse-plane kinematic deviations in lower limbs are prevalent in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).
- These deviations often lead to significant gait impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the primary rotational anomaly of the lower limbs affecting gait in children with UCP.
- To establish the relationship between specific rotational deviations and gait parameters.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive observational study included 42 ambulatory children with UCP (aged 5-8 years).
- Comprehensive gait analysis assessed transverse-plane kinematic deviations (hip, ankle rotation, foot progression angle) and spatial-temporal gait features (velocity, step length, support time, symmetry indices).
Main Results:
- Hip rotation was the key determinant of gait velocity (R² = 0.75) and spatial gait-symmetry index (S-GSI) (R² = 0.24).
- Foot progression angle was the most significant factor for temporal gait-symmetry index (T-GSI) (R² = 0.22).
- Ankle rotation partially explained variance in T-GSI (R² = 0.10).
Conclusions:
- Hip rotation anomalies are the primary drivers of reduced gait velocity and impaired spatial gait symmetry in children with UCP.
- Temporal gait symmetry is predominantly influenced by foot progression angle deviations and secondarily by ankle rotation.
Background:
Transverse-plane kinematic deviations of lower limbs are common in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), often with detrimental consequences for gait.
Research Question:
To identify the most important factor among rotational anomalies of lower limbs for gait in children with UCP.
Methods:
In a descriptive observational study, 42 children with UCP (age; 5-8 years) who had the ability of independent walking were included. Comprehensive gait analysis was performed and included assessment of the transverse-plane kinematic deviations of the lower limbs [pelvis, hip, and ankle rotation angles, and foot progression (FP) angle], and spatial-temporal gait features [velocity, step length (SL), single-limb support time (SLSt), temporal gait-symmetry index (T-GSI), and spatial gait-symmetry index (S-GSI)].
Results And Significance:
The regression analysis indicated that hip rotation was the key determinant of gait velocity (R2 = 0.75, P < .001) and S-GSI (R2 = 0.24, P = .001). The FP angle was the most important factor for T-GSI (R2 = 0.22, P = .002). The ankle rotation explained in part the variance in T-GSI (R2 = 0.10, P = .001).
Conclusion:
Gait velocity and spatial gait-symmetry are primarily affected by hip rotation anomalies. The temporal gait-symmetry is generally associated with the FP angle deviation and partly with ankle rotation deviation.
