Spatiotemporal gait parameters measured using the Bessou gait analyzer in 79 healthy subjects. Influence of age, stature, and gender. Study Group on Disabilities due to Musculoskeletal Disorders (Groupe de Recherche sur le Handicap de l'Appareil Locomoteur, GRHAL).

The Bessou gait analyzer provides quantitative measurements of spatiotemporal gait parameters. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how these parameters are influenced by age, stature, and gender. Seventy-nine normal individuals (38 males aged 20 to 80 years and 41 females aged 20 to 80 years) were divided into ten-year age groups. Males and females were studied separately. In each subject, the Bessou gait analyzer was used to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters (spatial parameters: stride and step lengths; temporal parameters: cycle, stance and swing durations). Mean walking speed was calculated in each subgroup. In both males and females, all study parameter values were identical for the left and right sides. Females younger than 60 years had shorter stride and step lengths (M: 1.5 +/- 0.2 m; F: 1.3 +/- 0.1; p < 0.001) but faster pace values (M: 104.8 +/- 9.0 cycles/min; F: 115.6 +/- 7.6 cycles/min; p < 0.001) than males, and consequently mean walking speed was similar in females and males (M: 4.8 km/h +/- 0.8 km/h; F: 4.4 km/h +/- 0.6 km/h). In contrast, females older than 60 years walked at the same pace as males and consequently had slower walking speeds. Stride length was correlated with age, stature, and gender. However, age was correlated with stature, and only age and gender had independent effects on gait parameters in the multiple regression analysis. In subjects of similar age and gender, effects of stature may need to be taken into account.