The Relationship Between Gait Parameters and Pain in Persons

This is a preliminary study of the potential relationship between pain and gait parameters in 11 persons with transtibial amputation who underwent gait analysis under both baseline and discomfort walking conditions . Gait analysis included measurement with a VA-Rancho Stride Analyzer of the following gait parameters : velocity, cadence, stride length, gait cycle, and support time . These data were correlated with pain intensity data determined with a standard Visual Analog Scale . Wide ranges of discomfort were reported and corresponding alterations in gait parameters varied greatly in both magnitude and quality . There was no obvious pattern in acclimation to discomfort . A significant correlation was found between pain intensity and the magnitude of change in velocity (p<0 .05) . In addition, all subjects reporting significant pain (>33% of maximum) slowed down, while gait alterations of others varied widely in response to the experience of pain. Further studies with a larger and more homogeneous subject pool to examine these relationships fully are recommended to follow this preliminary report.