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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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3D Kinematic Gait Analysis for Preclinical Studies in Rodents
Published on: August 3, 2019
Accessible 2D video-based system for gait kinematic analysis: an inter-rater reliability study
Albert Puig-Diví1, Lluís Costa-Tutusaus1, Juanjo García-Gil1
1Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Smartphone gait analysis offers reliable spatiotemporal metrics but variable joint angle reliability. Examiner experience impacts results, especially for temporal gait phases and distal joint angles, requiring cautious interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Gait Analysis
- Digital Health
Background:
- Quantitative gait analysis is crucial for clinical decisions but limited by lab costs.
- Smartphone-based 2D video analysis offers a potential low-cost alternative.
- Inter-rater reliability of smartphone gait analysis, especially concerning examiner expertise, needs further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the inter-rater reliability of smartphone-based gait analysis using Kinovea software.
- To evaluate the influence of examiner expertise on spatiotemporal and kinematic gait outcomes.
- To compare smartphone-derived gait data with established 3D reference values.
Main Methods:
- 84 healthy adults performed level barefoot walking captured via smartphone.
- Four examiners (2 experienced, 2 non-experienced) analyzed videos using Kinovea.
- Inter-rater reliability was measured using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots.
Main Results:
- Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.96) was found for global spatiotemporal parameters (walking speed, cadence, stride length).
- Reliability varied for joint kinematics, with higher consistency for hip (ICC up to 0.88) than knee (ICC ≈ 0.65-0.85) and ankle (ICC ≈ 0.45).
- Temporal gait phase variables showed poor reliability (ICC ≈ 0.31-0.43), with limited improvement among experienced raters.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-based gait analysis with Kinovea provides reliable spatiotemporal data and moderate-to-good reliability for proximal joint kinematics in healthy adults.
- Temporal gait phase variables and distal joint angles exhibit lower reliability and should be interpreted with caution, particularly in longitudinal studies or when multiple examiners are involved.
- This approach offers a viable, low-cost tool for gait assessment, with awareness of its limitations regarding specific parameters and examiner expertise.
