Gender Differences in Gait Parameters of Healthy Adult Individuals

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Anatomical and biomechanical differences between male and female are also known to cause differences in gait patterns. However, the results of the studies are contradictory. Furthermore, these studies focused only on some of the spatiotemporal parameters, and pelvic movements were not analyzed. The aim of the present study is to reveal the difference in gait parameters between male and female. Methods: 44 female and 39 males were included in the study. BTS G-Walk system was used to evaluate the gait. After the accelerometer was placed, the participants were asked to walk 8 m. Spatiotemporal parameters and pelvic kinematics were recorded. Results: Given the spatiotemporal parameters, it was found that male and female were similar in terms of speed, % stride length and step length (p>0.05), while gait cycle duration, stride length, swing phase and single support phases were higher in male; and stance phase, first double support phases, cadence were found to be higher in female (p<0.05). In pelvic kinematics, male and female were similar in terms of rotation total range, gait cycle, pelvic tilt, obliquity and rotation symmetry index (p>0.05), while pelvic tilt total range was higher in male and obliquity total range was higher in female (p<0.05). Conclusion: The fact that gait differs not only in spatiotemporal parameters but also in pelvic oscillations due to anthropometric and biomechanical differences between male and female has shown that when evaluating individuals in the clinic, they should be compared and interpreted according to their own gender groups.

Keywords

• gender
• gait analysis
• spatiotemporal parameter
• pelvic kinematics

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