The comparison of normative reference data from different gait analysis services

• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.03.185
• Publication Date: 2014-04-03T12:01:22Z
• Authors: Ornella Pinzone; Michael H. Schwartz; Pam Thomason; Richard Baker
• Keywords: Male; Models, Statistical; Databases, Factual; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Foot; Data Collection; health_and_wellbeing; Reference Standards; Biomechanical Phenomena; Kinetics; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Hip Joint; Gait; Physical Examination; Gait Disorders, Neurologic

Comparison of normative data between gait analysis services offers the potential to harmonise data collection protocols. This paper presents a method for such a comparison based on an assumption that the root mean square difference from the inter-service mean is a reflection of systematic differences in protocols and that the average standard deviation includes a component attributable to within-centre measurement variability. Substantial normative datasets from two highly respected clinical services were compared. The RMS difference for the difference from the inter-centre mean was less than 1.7° for all kinematic variables apart from hip rotation (2.9°) and foot progression (2.1°), less than 0.1 Nm/kg for all joint moments and than 0.21 W/kg for all joint powers. The two centres showed very similar normative standard deviations. The data demonstrates a high degree of consistency between data from two highly regarded gait analysis services and establishes a baseline against which other services can assess their performance. An electronic appendix includes data to facilitate this comparison.