Table 3.
Gait parameters measured during unassisted 20-m walk test categorized by the users prescribed walking aid
| Gait Parameter | Walking Aid Used for Assessment |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Walking Aid (n=21), median (IQR) | Walking Stick (n=13), median (IQR) | 4-Wheel Walker (n=24), median (IQR) | P Value for Between-Group Difference | Explanation of Between-Group Difference | |
| Gait cycle time (s) | 1.12 (1.07-1.15) | 1.20 (1.10-1.25) | 1.21 (1.04-1.37) | .12 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.62) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.13) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (p=1.00) |
| Cadence (steps/min) | 106.98 (104.29-112.57) | 100.20 (96.19-108.84) | 99.68 (89.81-115.82) | .26 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.70) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.37) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (p=1.00) |
| Stance phase (% of cycle duration) | 61.53 (60.02-63.53) | 64.39 (62.04-66.19) | 63.30 (61.79-69.07) | .03 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.31) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.02) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (p=1.00) |
| Swing phase (% of gait cycle) | 38.47 (36.47-39.98) | 35.61 (33.81-37.96) | 36.41 (30.94-38.21) | .03 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.31) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.02) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (P>.99) |
| Double support (% of cycle duration) | 23.31 (19.89-27.13) | 28.74 (24.01-32.28) | 27.24 (23.51-38.16) | .02 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.30) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.02) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (p=1.00) |
| Stride length (m) | 1.23 (1.11-1.33) | 0.92 (0.87-1.14) | 0.82 (0.58-0.94) | <.01 | Difference between no aid and walking stick (P<.01). Difference between no aid and 4WW (P<.01). Difference between walking stick and 4WW (P=.03) |
| Speed (m/s) | 1.15 (0.90-1.24) | 0.82 (0.71-1.01) | 0.69 (0.50-0.83) | <.01 | Difference between no aid and walking stick (P=.02). Difference between no aid and 4WW (P<.01). Difference between walking stick and 4WW (P=.18) |
| Peak angle velocity (degrees/s) | 379.00 (337.30-390.30) | 332.40 (289.40-351.10) | 278.45 (228.35-335.40) | <.01 | Difference between no aid walking stick (P=.35) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P<.01) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (P=.10) |
| Max heel clearance (m) | 0.28 (0.26-0.29) | 0.28 (0.25-0.32) | 0.23 (0.20-0.26) | <.01 | Difference between no aid walking stick (p=1.00) Difference between no aid and 4WW (P=.02) Difference between walking stick and 4WW (P=.03) |
Abbreviation: 4WW, 4-wheel walker.