Apart from their apparent difference -- the area of applications differ -- what may be the precise differences between clinical and general gait analysis? To which degree is one associated with another? What are the differences in the techniques involved and what are focussed in each?
Clinical gait is usually associated with data collected for patients that underwent a THA or TKA or have certain pathological problems that might affect their gait where we need to follow their progression before and after treatment. It also might require clinical observation by an orthopedic surgeon during gait data collection. Clinical gait is performed in clinical setting and is usually an extension of a clinic. Clinical data is usually to evaluate patients gaits for the purpose of identifying a musculus-skeletal problem and monitor the gait after a hip or knee surgery. General gait is used to estimate the working muscles forces and torques at the joints, analysis of stability, and other work-energy related functions.
Clinical gait is usually associated with data collected for patients that underwent a THA or TKA or have certain pathological problems that might affect their gait where we need to follow their progression before and after treatment. It also might require clinical observation by an orthopedic surgeon during gait data collection. Clinical gait is performed in clinical setting and is usually an extension of a clinic. Clinical data is usually to evaluate patients gaits for the purpose of identifying a musculus-skeletal problem and monitor the gait after a hip or knee surgery. General gait is used to estimate the working muscles forces and torques at the joints, analysis of stability, and other work-energy related functions.
From the practice of sports (not clinical experience), I can add that when we want to perfect an action, introduces a disturbance. Thus, in the case of gait analysis not clinical test must take into account the balance of the body in relation to changes in terrain. In tests clinical conditions do not take into account differentiation areas
I do not know there is a difference. Either you analyse by use of equipment or by eyesight, whatever suits you most. Of course, using equipment creates more data for evaluation. But an experienced gait analyser is very valuable.
Ebenezer
Gait can also be considered according to a "micro/macro" assessment of gait. That stems from a theoretical model by experts in the area of gait in neurological disorders, i.e. Dr Sue Lord and Prof Lynn Rochester (both on Research Gate. Refer to Moving forward on gait measurement: toward a more refined approach" in Movement Disorders in 2013.
Briefly, micro gait reflects the spatio-temporal characteristics: step time, stance time, etc as well as their variability and asymmetry. Sue Lord determined 16 micro gait characteristics that are sensitive to age and pathology. Check out her collaborative paper with Joe Verghese: "Independent Domains of Gait in Older Adults and
Associated Motor and Nonmotor Attributes: Validation
of a Factor Analysis Approach" from 2013.
Macro gait refers to general periods (bouts) of ambulation, e.g. the total time spent walking or distribution of bouts during a week.
The micro/macro could reflect your clinical/general approach.
Hope that helps
Alan
Clinical gait analysis usually refers to the use of 3-D motion analysis to analyze hair kinematics and kinetics. General gait analysis would include observation, possibly 2-D analysis and spatiotemporal measures like speed and step length.
The simple answer to your question is three-dimensional motion analysis of gate is quantifiable, while 2 dimensional clinical gate analysis is subjective and dependent on the analyses/clinicians experience and understanding. Quantifiable Three-dimensional Motion analysis is limited by lab expenses and data analysis expertise while, subjective clinical analysis is limited by the clinicians expertise.
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It truly depends on the basis for the question as to why the gait analysis is being performed. If there is an intervention that may be occurring pre or post analysis, your analysis may have been done with a clinical perspective. Most often clinical gait analyses occur on populations who have chronic disorders/conditions (Cerebral Palsy, stroke, Muscular Dystrophy, etc.) where surgical interventions are performed based upon the data received from the analysis. This is typically done in collaboration with physicians and/or surgeons with expertise in a certain area.
I would argue that clinical gait analyses do not have to be performed via 3D motion capture and that general motion analysis are solely performed via 2D motion capture. Once again, the type of data collection you perform is directly related to the question of why the analysis is being performed. If you are examining sagittal plane angles during gait in a clinical population you could perform 2D analysis (while the quality is suspect), and likewise you could perform 3D analysis on a healthy individual if the interest is transverse plane (rotation) angles.
Gait analyses are simply micro-research projects, so the type of analyses performed is based upon the research question.
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