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Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Gait asymmetry is associated with performance-based physical function among adults with lower-limb amputation
Mayank Seth1, Peter C Coyle2, Ryan T Pohlig3
1Delaware Limb Loss Studies, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark DE, USA.
Background:
Adults with lower-limb amputation walk with an asymmetrical gait and exhibit poor functional outcomes, which may negatively impact quality-of-life.
Objective:
To evaluate associations between gait asymmetry and performance-based physical function among adults with lower-limb amputation.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study involving 38 adults with a unilateral transtibial (N = 24; 62.5 ± 10.5 years) or transfemoral amputation (N = 14; 59.9 ± 9.5 years) was conducted. Following gait analysis (capturing step length and stance time asymmetry at self-selected (SSWS) and fast walking speeds (FWS)), participants completed performance-based measures (i.e. Timed Up and Go (TUG), the 10-Meter Walk Test (10mwt), and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)).
Results:
Step length and stance time asymmetry (at SSWS and FWS) were significantly correlated with each performance-based measure (p < .001 to p = .035). Overall, models with gait measures obtained at SSWS explained 40.1%, 46.8% and 40.1% of the variance in TUG-time (p = .022), 10mwt-speed (p = .003) and 6MWT-distance (p = .010), respectively. Models with gait measures obtained at FWS explained 70.0%, 59.8% and 51.8% of the variance in TUG-time (p < .001), 10mwt-speed (p < .001), and 6MWT-distance (p < .001), respectively.
Conclusions:
Increases in step length or stance time asymmetry are associated with increased TUG-time, slower 10mwt-speed, and reduced 6MWT-distance. Findings suggest gait asymmetry may be a factor in poor functional outcomes following lower-limb amputation.
