Our laboratory session employs footprint and gait grid analyses, and a timed walk. For every technique, let your subjects walk at a comfortable speed. Allow them room to take two full steps before and after those steps for which you collect data.
Equipment:
newsprint stopwatch moleskin calculator data collection forms |
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Procedure:
1. Remove subjects' shoes and let them sit in a chair on the end of a newsprint runway.
2. Using the shapes to the right as approximate guides, cut two squares and two triangles of moleskin. Affix the moleskin by its adhesive side to the sole of either shoe; place the squares on the midline of either heel, and the triangles under either second ray. Impregnate the moleskin with the marker pens, using the two colors to distinguish between the right and left foot.
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3. Prepare to collect data as your subject walks. One person uses the stopwatch to time the subject's walking, so you can calculate average cadence (in steps/min.) and velocity (in meters/sec.) The timer starts and stops the watch on any two initial contacts, and recalls which footprints correspond to these initial contacts. Because we are calculating average velocity, a sample of longer duration will be more accurate than a shorter sample. When calculating cadence, determine correctly the number of steps for which you have data. Note, for instance, that the data for 5 initial contacts includes only 4 steps.
4. After your subject has donned shoes and walked down the runway, reduce the data by referring to the terms and definitions in the figure to the right.
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5. Compare your subject's stride analysis measures with typical ones.
Equipment:
Robinson and Smidt (1981) describe a gait grid procedure that requires a stopwatch and portable tape recorder.
The published approach is impractical unless the subjects walks very slowly. However, working as a team, lab groups can collect the location of each initial contact and the duration between the first and last initial contacts.
Calculations:
Compare your subject's stride analysis measures with typical ones.
Clinics' walking courses can vary in distance but should approximate the distances that people must walk to be independent in their communities. Robinett and Vondran (1988) discovered that people must walk more than 300 meters to visit supermarkets in most towns with populations of 10,000 or larger. To qualify as "independent community ambulators," people must be able to walk far enough, and fast enough; a speed of 80 meters/minute is necessary to cross streets safely in most communities (Lerner-Frankiel, Vargas, Brown, Krusell, & Schoneberger, 1986; Robinett & Vondran, 1988).
Embrey, D.G. (1985). A practical method for evaluating foot placement during gait. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 5, 27-31.
Lerner-Frankiel, M.B., Vargas, S., Brown, M., Krusell, L.., & Schoneberger, W. (1986). Functional community ambulation: What are your criteria? Clinical Management in Physical Therapy, 6(2), 12-15.
Robinett, C.S, & Vondran, M.A. (1988). Functional ambulation velocity and distance requirements in rural and urban communities. A clinical report. Physical Therapy, 68, 1371-1373.
Robinson, J.L., & Smidt, G.L. (1981). Quantitative gait evaluation in the clinic. Physical Therapy, 61, 351-353.
Scrutton, D.R. (1969). Footprint sequence of normal children under five years old. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 11, 44-53.
Shores, M. (1980). Footprint analysis in gait documentation: An instructional sheet format. Physical Therapy, 60, 1163-1167.