Data-based evidence of normative gait in healthy adults (18-65 years): Demographics, methodology, and data...

Normative gait data are essential for research, identifying abnormalities and guiding diagnosis. However, a systematic overview of normative gait data and their characteristics, independent of measurement systems and parameter types, is currently lacking.

This study aims to summarize the current state of normative gait data for healthy adults, focusing on population characteristics, data descriptions, measurement systems, research/data gaps, data presentation and accessibility.

Databases including Medline, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched, supplemented by studies referenced in prior reviews. Inclusion criteria were studies on healthy adults (18-65 years) with normative gait data and a population size of at least 30. Secondary data analyses were excluded.

105 studies, involving 11764 participants, were included. Open access publications accounted for 54.2%, with 22 studies providing additional data links. Data stratified by age and sex was reported in 50.5% and 49.5% of studies, respectively, while 64.8% documented footwear. Multi-camera systems were most frequently used in publications, while IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) captured data from the most participants. The dataset is available to facilitate further customized analyses of normative gait data.

Although the availability and accessibility of normative gait data have improved in recent years, substantial challenges remain due to the lack of standardization. Future efforts should focus on enhancing data descriptions, encouraging independent reproduction, and defining standards to improve reproducibility and usability for machine learning applications.