Repeatability of spatiotemporal, plantar pressure and force parameters during treadmill walking and running.

BACKGROUND: Instrumented treadmills with integrated pressure mats measure spatiotemporal, pressure and force parameters and are often used to investigate changes in gait patterns due to injury or rehabilitation.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the within- and between-day repeatability of such an instrumented treadmill for spatiotemporal parameters, peak pressures and forces during walking and running?

METHODS: Treadmill gait and running analysis were performed at 5.0, 6.5, and 9.0 km/h in 33 healthy adults (age: 31.6 ± 7.4 years; body mass index: 23.8 ± 3.2 kg/m2 ) once on day 1 and twice on day 7. For all three speeds, intraclass correlation coefficents (ICC) and smallest detectable differences (SDC) corresponding to 95% limits of agreement were calculated for spatiotemporal parameters and peak pressures and forces in the heel, midfoot, and forefoot regions.

RESULTS: All spatiotemporal parameters and peak forces in the heel, midfoot, and forefoot regions showed a good within- and between-day repeatability (ICCs > 0.878) for all gait speeds with within-day repeatability being generally higher. For peak pressures, only the heel and forefoot regions but not the midfoot region, showed good repeatability (ICC > 0.9) at all gait speeds. SDCs ranged from 1.5 to 2.5° for foot rotation, 4.4 to 6.6 cm for stride length, 0.7 to 2.5% for length of stance phases, and 2.8 to 9.2 N/cm2 for peak pressures in all foot regions. For walking, SDCs of peak forces in the heel, midfoot and forefoot regions were below 60 N, and for running below 135 N.

SIGNIFICANCE: Except for peak pressures in the midfoot, spatiotemporal and kinetic gait parameters during walking and running showed a good within- and between-day repeatability. Hence, the investigated treadmill is suitable to analyze gait patterns and changes in gait patterns due to interventions.