Summary - 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 metre 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 generalised in
view of intrasubject variability for these variables.