Clinical Gait Assessment by Video Observation and 2D Techniques

Abstract

Observational gait analysis, in particular video-based gait analysis, is extremely valuable in the daily clinical routine. Certain requirements are necessary in order to be able to perform a high-quality analysis. The walking distance must be sufficiently long enough (dependent on the type of patient), the utilized equipment should meet the requirements, and there should be a recording log. The quality of the videos for evaluation is dependent on the recording conditions of the video cameras. Exposure time, additional lighting, and camera position all need to be adjusted properly for sagittal and frontal imaging. Filming the video in a room designated for this purpose will help to ensure constant recording conditions and quality. The recordings should always be carried out based on a recording log. The test form can act as a guide for the evaluation of the video. This provides an objective description of the gait. It is important to always keep in mind that the evaluation must remain subjective to a certain degree. Based on the gait parameter, the reproducibility of this value (intra-and inter-reliability) is moderate to good. In addition to a database function, current video recording software is able to measure angles and distances. It should also be possible to play back two videos in parallel, in order to, for example, play back both the pre-surgical and postsurgical gait simultaneously. Despite the implementation of three-dimensional measurement systems for gait analysis, observation or video-supported gait analysis is justified in daily clinical operations.