Bilateral analysis of the knee and ankle during gait: an examination of the relationship between lateral dominance and symmetry.

This study examined the relationship between lower extremity dominance and kinematic symmetry during gait. Fourteen healthy volunteers without any observable gait deviations participated in the study. The subjects (8 male, 6 female) ranged in age from 19 to 56 years. Lower extremity lateral dominance was determined using an assessment method developed by Carol Coogler. Retroreflective spherical markers were placed bilaterally at points over the greater trochanter, the lateral joint line of the knee, the lateral malleolus, and the metatarsal break. A video-based data-acquisition instrument interfaced with a PDP 11/73 computer measured 12 kinematic variables while the subjects walked at self-selected speeds along a 10-m walkway. A multivariate analysis of variance with one repeated measure revealed significant differences between limbs, across subjects, for stance time and maximum knee extension. A within-subject analysis demonstrated significant differences for 10 variables; however, lateral dominance could not be related predictably to these variations. Our results indicate that symmetry cannot be generalized in view of intrasubject variability for these variables. [Valle DR, Gundersen LA, Barr AE, et al: Bilateral analysis of the knee and ankle during gait: An examination of the relationship between lateral dominance and symmetry.