Spatio-temporal measures

• Step length:

  • length from one heel contact to the next heel contact
  • left foot forward (right heel to left heel) = left step length
  • right foot forward (left heel to right heel) = right step length
  • normal for variation in length

  
• Stride:

  • length from one heel contact to the next heel contact of the same foot

  
• • Step length changes with speed of walking
  • the faster the speed, the longer the step length
  • but can vary with different abnormalities
• Patient with stroke, not able to weightbear on right leg

  
• Angle of toe out / aka foot progression angle:

  • asymmetry is normal
  • line through foot from middle of heel and toes and follow line until it intersects line of direction that person is walking in
  • common reasons for abnormalities in angle:
  • pain in plantarflexors stretching in stance phase, so turning foot out to side decreases pain
  • pain/weakness in hip flexors so struggle to flex hip forwards during swing phase, so laterally turn hip and use adductors to swing hip forward
  • association between increase angle of toe out and increased loading of medial part of knee

  
• Width of base of walking:

  • how far apart the feet are
  • distance from one heel to another at the same starting point
  • abnormalities can be caused by lack of balance so widen base of support to compensate

  
• Gait velocity:

  • speed of ambulation
  • distance / time
  • measured in metres per second
• Cadence:

  • frequency of steps
  • expressed as steps per minute
  • cadence increases as speed increases