Sagittal plane kinematic analysis of the six-minute walk test: a classification of hemiplegic gait.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to propose a kinematic classification of gait according to six minute walk test performance.


METHODS
Thirty-four hemiplegic subjects were enrolled. Six-minute walk test (SMWT), gait analysis and Walking Handicap Scale score (WHS) were measured. A k-means cluster analysis was used to classify the sample into three sub-groups which were homogeneous in spatio-temporal parameters, kinematic variables, and which reflected three meaningful levels of walking competency.


RESULTS
Three clusters were identified: low-functioning walkers (Cluster 1) walked for 88-172 m; intermediate-functioning walkers (Cluster 2) walked for 180-302 m and high-functioning walkers (Cluster 3) were able to cover 349-430 m. The authors found homogeneous gait profiles in these subgroups. Between-group differences on kinematic data and WHS scores were also underlined.


CONCLUSIONS
Cluster analysis was able to identify consistent gait characteristics of spatio-temporal, walking endurance and sagittal plane kinematic profiles in hemiplegic subjects and is useful for categorizing the levels of walking competency in these subjects.
Straudi
S
S
University of Bologna, Italy. sofia.straudi@gmail.com
Manca
M
M
Aiello
E
E
Ferraresi
G
G
Cavazza
S
S
Basaglia
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult