A Comparison and Validation of Running Gait Normalization Methods

Abstract

Normalization or scaling of gait biomechanics is most often done by ratio scaling, in an attempt to remove the influence on the resulting data of certain body size differences, such as height and mass, between genders and groups. Ratio scaling has yet to be evaluated as a normalization method and the suitable use of other methodology, such as allometric scaling, is unknown. The current study was a single session biomechanical running gait analysis of healthy male and female college aged individuals. Relationships were identified between height and frontal and sagittal plane ankle moments for both genders and the knee adduction moment for females, indicating the potential for significant bias in previous research due to this effect being overlooked. In conclusion, ratio scaling was found to over scale or under scale certain biomechanical variables of reactionary forces and joint moments while allometric scaling was found to more appropriately normalize such variables.