Gait parameters in a reference sample of healthy Spanish schoolchildren: multivariate descriptive statistics and asymmetries observed in left and right cycles

Introduction: Instrumental gait analysis is an emerging technology used increasingly to evaluate motor disorders in children. Normal reference data is necessary in order to evaluate patients, but there are few reference resources for the Spanish paediatric population.

Objective: We aim to describe the values of 16 clinically relevant gait variables in healthy Spanish schoolchildren, and identify any linear associations or left-right asymmetries.

Subjects and methods: The values of 16 gait variables were determined in schoolchildren (n=27, aged 5-13 years) using instrumental gait analysis. We analysed asymmetries for each variable (Student's t-test for dependent samples) and calculated their confidence intervals (95% of the standardised difference in right and left means [SMD]). Values and associations between variables were represented using a heat map.

Results: Our project presents normal values tables for 16 variables in the gait cycle. Significant asymmetries were detected in the mean values for minimum hip flexion (SMD: 0.25 95% CI, 0.11-0.39) and peak hip abduction in swing (SMD: -1.05 95% CI: -1.71--0.27). Functional associations among gait variables are present.

Conclusions: We present a reference dataset for Spanish school-aged children in which left-right asymmetries and functional associations may be observed for different variables.