Gait asymmetries in patients with idiopathic scoliosis using vertical forces measurement only

This study aimed at identifying measurable asymmetries during gait and relating them to the spinal deformity in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. We investigated 21 patients aged between 10 and 26 years for gait asymmetries using force plates. All subjects completed five walking cycles over two force plates measuring vertical ground reaction forces. Among the parameters measured were contact time and magnitude of the two peaks of the vertical forces as well as the rate of application of those forces. Published gait data on normal subjects were used as a control group. In 20 subjects an asymmetry of at least one gait parameter was noted. Multiple regression analysis showed, however, that there was no relation between the noted gait asymmetry and the curve direction, curve magnitude or vertebral rotation. This suggests that although functional asymmetries of the central nervous system have been described in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, they do not appear to have a reproducible effect on gait.