The purpose of this study was to find which spatiotemporal gait parameters gained from stroke patients could be predictive factors for the gait part of Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA-G). Two hundred forty-six stroke patients were recruited for this study. They participated in two assessments, the POMA-G and computerized spatiotemporal gait analysis. To analyze the relationship between the POMA-G and spatiotemporal parameters, we used Pearson’s correlation coefficients. In addition, multiple linear regression analyses (stepwise method) were used to predict the spatiotemporal gait parameters that correlated most with the POMA-G. The results show that the gait velocity (r=.67, p<.01), cadence (r=.66, p<.01), step length of the affected side (r=.49, p<.01), step length of the non-affected side (r=.53, p<.01), swing percentage of the non-affected side (r=.47, p<.01), and single support percentage of the affected side (r=.53, p<.01) as well as the double support percentage of the non-affected side (r=-.42, p<.01) and the step-length asymmetry (r=-.64, p<.01) correlated with POMA-G. The gait velocity, step-length asymmetry, cadence, and single support percentage of the affected side explained 67%, 2%, 2%, and 1% of the variance in the POMA-G, respectively. In conclusion, gait velocity would be the most predictive factor for the POMA-G.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal gait parameters, compared to a barefoot condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system. Fabric ankle-foot orthosis significantly improved Timed Up and Go test time and gait velocity. There was no significant difference in cadence. The step time significantly improved in both the more and less affected foot compared to the barefoot condition. The step length of the affected foot also significantly improved, but there was no significant difference in the step length of the less affected foot. There was significant improvement in the stride length of both the affected and less affected foot, but no significant difference in single stance or double stance. The fabric ankle-foot orthosis could improve stability, and selective control of the joint and promote better walking in children with cerebral palsy. Consequently, the fabric ankle-foot orthosis might be an alternative assistive device for neurological populations as a primary role instead of the typical ankle-foot orthosis.

The purpose of this study was to determine which spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained during hemiplegic walking could be a predictive factor for the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Two hundreds nine subjects who had suffered a stroke were recruited for this study. They were participated in two assessments; the TUG test and gait analysis. The relationship between the TUG test and spatiotemporal parameters was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. In addition, to predict the spatiotemporal gait parameters that correlated most with the TUG scores, we used multiple linear regression analyses (stepwise method). The results show that the normalized velocity was strongly correlated with the TUG performance (r=-.72, p<.001). Additionally, single support percentage (SSP), double support percentage (DSP), step time difference (STD), and step length difference (SLD) significantly were correlated with the TUG test. Normalized velocity, STD, DSP of affected side, and SSP of non-affected side explained 53%, 8%, 3%, 2%, of variance in the TUG test respectively. In conclusion, an increase in gait velocity and a decrease in STD would be effective indicators of improvement on the functional mobility in the stroke rehabilitation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ankle joint mobilization with movement (MWM) on the range of motion (ROM) in the ankle, on the muscle strength of lower extremities, and on spatiotemporal gait parameters in chronic hemiplegic patients. Fifteen subjects with chronic stroke were divided into two groups: an experimental group (8 subjects) and a control group (7 subjects). Both groups attended two or three sessions of physical therapy each week. The experimental group also attended additional MWM training sessions three times a week for five weeks. For both groups, the ROM of the ankle, the muscle strength of the lower extremities, and the spatiotemporal gait parameters in paretic limbs were evaluated before and after the training period. The results showed that the experimental group experienced more significant increases than did the control group in terms of passive (6.10%) and active (21.96%) ROM of the ankle, gait velocity (12.96%), and peak torque, of the knee flexor (81.39%), the knee extensor (24.88%), and the ankle plantar flexor (41.75%)(p<.05). These results suggest that MWM training in patients with chronic stroke may be beneficial in increasing ROM in the ankle, muscle strength in the lower extremities, and gait speed.

These were two main purposes of this study. The first was to research the relevance between gross motor function measurement (GMFM) and the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in children with cerebral palsy. The second was to research the relevance between gross motor performance measure (GMPM) and the spatiotemporal gait parameters. Twelve children ( years) with cerebral palsy participated in this study. GMFM and GMPM were performed and the spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured by using WalkWay MG-1000. There were no significant correlations between the GMFM score and the stride length, step length, step width, cadence, and velocity (p>.05). The GMPM score also had no significant correlation with the spatiotemporal gait parameter (p>.05).

This paper presents the relevance between GMFM and the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in children with cerebral palsy. Twenty-one children ( months) with cerebral palsy participated in this study. GMFM was performed and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured by foot print gait analysis. A correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between GMFM scores and spatiotemporal parameters of gait. A linear regression analysis was employed to find how much each gait spatiotemporal parameters could be predicted from GMFM scores. The total GMFM scores was significantly correlated with walking speed, cadence, and stride length. Dimensions D (standing) and E (walking, running, and jumping) were more significantly correlated with gait spatiotemporal parameters than dimensions A (lying and rolling), B (sitting), and C (crawling and kneeling). The GMFM scores were useful for predicting spatiotemporal parameters. However, it is difficult to predict the status of gait development using GMFM scores because GMFM scores and gait spatiotemporal parameters are only measured as quantities not qualities. In the field, it is easily found that many children with cerebral palsy are unable to walk in any way. Consequently, gait analysis cannot be performed in many cases. Therefore, it is more reasonable to investigate the influence of GMFM on spatiotemporal parameters, rather than vice versa.