title: Asymmetries in ground reaction force patterns in normal human gait.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to propose a measure of symmetry/asymmetry for normal human gait and to quantify symmetries/asymmetries of normal human gait for selected gait variables using a force platform. Sixty-two subjects performed ten gait trials each, stepping on the force platform five times with each leg. From these gait trials a symmetry index was calculated for 34 gait variables. The upper and lower limits of normal gait were calculated such that 95% of all symmetry indices obtained from this subject population fell within these limits. Upper and lower limits were found to vary from +/- 4% to over +/- 13,000%. Extremely high percentages were found for variables which had absolute magnitudes close to zero and/or variables which occurred at distinctly different instants during the gait cycle. The results of these variables need to be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Nigg
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male