Quantitative gait evaluation in the clinic.

The purpose of this paper is to present a clinically feasible method to provide objective, quantitative information regarding the quality of a patient's gait. The technique used is simple and economical and requires minimal equipment. The four basic temporal and distance factors are 1) stride length, 2) step length, 3) cadence, and 4) velocity. The technique requires the following equipment: 1) grid pattern, 2) stop watch, 3) portable tape recorder, 4) tape measure, 5) marking pen, and 6) masking tape. Case examples are provided to demonstrate the use of the data obtained.