Table 1 Definitions of gait parameters
Parameter | Unit | Definition |
|---|---|---|
Cycle duration | Second (s) | The time between the heel touching the ground and the ipsilateral heel touching the ground again, meaning one gait cycle |
Cadence | Steps per minute (steps/min) | The number of cycles in a minute |
Stance phase (Stance) | Percent (%) of cycle duration | The percentage of time a part of the foot touches the ground during a gait cycle |
Swing phase (Swing) | Percent (%) of cycle duration | The percentage of time the foot are in the air and not touching the ground during a gait cycle |
Loading phase (Loading) | Percent (%) of stance | The percentage of time between the heel strike and the foot being flat on the ground during stance phase |
Foot-flat phase (Foot-flat) | Percent (%) of stance | The percentage of time where the foot is fully flat on the ground during stance phase |
Pushing phase (Pushing) | Percent (%) of stance | The percentage of time between the foot being flat on the ground and the toe leaving the ground at take-off during stance phase |
Double support phase (Double support) | Percent (%) of cycle duration | The percentage of time both feet touches the ground during a gait cycle |
Stride length | Meter (m) | The distance between two consecutive footprints on the ground, meaning the distance from the heel of one foot to the heel of the same foot one cycle later |
Stride velocity | Meter per second (m/s) | The forward speed of one cycle |
Peak angle velocity (Peak ang. velocity) | Degree per second (°/s) | The maximum angular velocity during the swing phase, between maximal heel clearance and minimal toe clearance |
Maximal swing speed (Swing speed) | Meter per second (m/s) | The maximum forward speed of the foot during swing phase |
Strike angle | Degree (°) | The angle between the foot and the ground at heel contact |
Lift-off angle | Degree (°) | The angle between the foot and the ground at the end of the pushing phase |
Swing width | Meter (m) | The maximal lateral excursion between the forward path and the real path of the foot during swing phase |
3D path length | Percent (%) stride length | The length of the path of the foot during one cycle in 3D space |
Maximal heel clearance (Max. heel) | Meter (m) | The maximal height above the ground reached by the heel during one cycle |
Maximal toe clearance 1 (Max. toe1) | Meter (m) | The maximal height above the ground reached by the toe just after heel maximal clearance |
Minimal toe clearance (Min. toe) | Meter (m) | The minimum height of the toe during swing phase |
Maximal toe clearance 2 (Max. toe2) | Meter (m) | The maximal height above the ground reached by the toe just before heel contact |