Reference database of the gait cycle for young healthy Tunisian adults

• Published in: Ingénierie et recherche biomédicale 2014-02, Vol.35 (1), p.46-52
• Main Authors: Dhahbi, W, Zouita, A, Ben Salah, F.Z, Chaouachi, A, Chamari, K, Chèze, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioengineering; Internal Medicine; Life Sciences
• ISSN: 1959-0318
• DOI: 10.1016/j.irbm.2013.12.005

Abstract Background Quantified gait analysis is a rising technology used increasingly to assess motor disorders. Normal reference data are required in order to evaluate patients, but there are no reference data available for the Tunisian healthy population. Aim To assess the features of normal Tunisian gait pattern, and examine the intrinsic reliability of spatio-temporal, kinematic and kinetic parameters within a new specific reference database. Methods Eighteen healthy active-young adults (age: 23.30 ± 2.54 years, height: 1.78 ± 0.04 m and, weight: 70.00 ± 4.80 kg) have participated to five trials of step gait where the dominant lower limb were recorded. Two over the five trials were randomly selected to be further analyzed. Twenty-three spatio-temporal, kinematic and kinetic parameters determined from 3-dimensional gait analysis. The intrinsic reliability was examined for each variable and our results were compared with those available in the literature. Results Twelve over 23 parameters have an excellent intrinsic reliability ( P > 0.05, ICC > 0.9 and SEM < 5% of the grand mean). There are similarities with other studies ( P < 0.05) but we noticed the existence of some specificity (the height of hip extension peak and the low cadence of gait) that could characterize the Tunisian population. Conclusion A specific reference database of the gait cycle has been established for healthy Tunisian active-young adults and excellent inter-trial reliability may be observed for different variables.