Clinical reliability and validity of a video-based markerless gait evaluation method

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the reliability and validity of gait parameters obtained from gait assessment system software employing a human posture estimation algorithm based on markerless videos of children walking in clinical practice.MethodsEighteen typical developmental (TD) children and ten children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) were recruited to walk along a designated sidewalk at a comfortable walking speed. A 3-dimensional gait analysis (3D GA) and a 2-dimensional markerless (2D ML) gait evaluation system were used to extract the gait kinematics parameters twice at an interval of 2 h.ResultsThe two measurements of the children's kinematic gait parameters revealed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were generally high (ICC >0.7), showing moderate to good relative reliability. The standard error of measurement (SEM) values of all gait parameters measured by the two walks were 1.26°–2.91°. The system software had good to excellent validity compared to the 3D GA, with ICC values between 0.835 and 0.957 and SEM values of 0.87°–1.71° for the gait parameters measured by both methods. The Bland–Altman plot analysis indicated no significant systematic errors.ConclusionsThe feasibility of the markerless gait assessment method using the human posture estimation-based algorithm may provide reliable and valid gait analysis results for practical clinical applications.