Gait characteristics of patients with claudication.
OBJECTIVE
Intermittent claudication of the lower extremity vessels produces pain during walking. This study differentiates walking patterns of patients with claudication from walking patterns of healthy individuals.


METHODS
Nonrandomized case control study performed in a teaching university hospital outpatient setting.


METHODS
The sample of convenience involved male patients with lower extremity claudication (n = 19) and 11 healthy men of similar ages.


METHODS
Subjects were asked to walk at self-selected speed for 20 meters on a level, indoor surface.


METHODS
Walking velocity and number of steps were averaged over each of five trials, and step length was calculated from these measures.


RESULTS
Patients with claudication walked slower and had decreased step length and decreased cadence compared with controls (p < .001). No positive relationship was found between disease severity, peak walking time, and step length, cadence, or speed.


CONCLUSIONS
All patients with claudication, regardless of disease severity, demonstrated abnormal gait parameters compared with controls. Further studies should evaluate whether the abnormal gait parameters significantly curtail walking ability.
Scherer
S A
SA
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Bainbridge
J S
JS
Hiatt
W R
WR
Regensteiner
J G
JG
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged