title: Temporal and spatial parameters of gait during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe spatial and temporal parameters during gait in pregnant women, and to compare it with women in post-partum and with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate alteration in natural locomotion, we used an electronic walkway (GAITRite system). Fifty-eight pregnant women (four last months of pregnancy), nine post-partum women and twenty-three healthy nulligravidae women participated in this study. The women performed the motor task at three different speeds: preferred, fast and slow. Spatial and temporal parameters for pregnant and non-pregnant were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In pregnant women, gait speed, step length and cadence were reduced. Consequently, cycle time was longer. The gait cycle was modified by an increase of stance phase and a decrease of swing phase. As a result, an increase of double support and a decrease of single support phases were observed. Step width increased by 15%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of gait displayed significant modifications during pregnancy as compared to nulliparous women. These changes favour a more stable and safe gait. After childbirth, women kept some characteristics of gait in pregnancy during 8 months.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertuit
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feipel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rooze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*