Clinical efficacy of instrumented gait analysis:​ systematic review 2020 update

Wren, Tishya A.L.; Tucker, Carole A.; Rethlefsen, Susan A.; Gorton, III, George E.; Õunpuu, Sylvia

Affiliations

¹Children’s Orthopaedic Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

²Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

³Shriners Hospitals for Children, Springfield, MA, USA

⁴Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Farmington, CT, USA

Abstract and keywords

Background: This paper updates our 2011 systematic review on the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis (3DGA).

Research question: What is the current evidence base pertaining to the clinical efficacy of 3DGA?

Methods: We identified English language articles published from September 2009 to October 2019 reporting primary research that used typical motion analysis laboratory methods to study human walking. Five gait laboratory experts classified articles according to the highest type of efficacy they addressed: type 1 (technical), 2 (diagnostic accuracy), 2b (outcome prediction), 3−4 (diagnostic thinking and treatment), 5 (patient outcome), 6 (societal). Articles classified into type 3−4 and higher were rated for quality using LEGEND.

Results: Of 2712 articles related to the efficacy of 3DGA, over 99% addressed technical (n = 313), diagnostic (n = 1466), or outcome prediction (n = 927) efficacy. Six type 3−4 studies showed that 3DGA changes treatment plans, increases clinicians’ confidence in their treatment decisions, and increases agreement among clinicians. Two type 5 articles based on a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that patient outcomes improved only when 3DGA data were available and its recommendations were followed. A population-based type 5 study found that the incidence of severe crouch gait dropped from 25% to 4% following practice changes including the addition of 3DGA. The strength of evidence was mainly 3b (lesser quality prospective cohort studies) but also included stronger studies (three level 2 controlled clinical trials).

Significance: Literature related to the clinical efficacy of 3DGA has grown substantially over the last decade. Thousands of articles contribute to continued improvement of data collection and interpretation, as well as understanding of gait pathology and treatment. A smaller number of studies clearly demonstrate the efficacy of 3DGA in changing and reinforcing treatment decisions, increasing clinicians’ confidence in treatment planning, and increasing agreement among clinicians, as well as the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Gait analysis; Kinematics; Evidence; Decision making; Outcomes

Links

DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.05.031

PubMed: 32563727

WoS: 000548455400012

History

Received: 2020-03-10

Revised: 2020-05-19

Accepted: 2020-05-21

Cited By (5)

Year	Entry
2023	Ebers MR, Rosenberg MC, Kutz JN, Steele KM. A machine learning approach to quantify individual gait responses to ankle exoskeletons. J Biomech. August 2023;157:111695.
2023	Ripic Z, Nienhuis M, Signorile JF, Best TM, Jacobs KA, Eltoukhy M. A comparison of three-dimensional kinematics between markerless and marker-based motion capture in overground gait. J Biomech. October 2023;159:111793.
2023	Horsak B, Eichmann A, Lauer K, Prock K, Krondorfer P, Siragy T, Dumphart B. Concurrent validity of smartphone-based markerless motion capturing to quantify lower-limb joint kinematics in healthy and pathological gait. J Biomech. October 2023;159:111801.
2025	Wang J, Xu W, Wu Z, Zhang H, Wang B, Zhou Z, Wang C, Li K, Nie Y. Evaluation of a smartphone-based markerless system to measure lower-limb kinematics in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J Biomech. March 2025;181:112529.
2023	Ebers MR. Machine Learning for Dynamical Models of Human Movement [PhD thesis]. University of Washington; 2023.