Spatio-temporal gait parameters during pregnancy and postpartum

Background and Objectives: Gait can get altered due to various biomechanical changes that occurs during pregnancy and this can affect the overall load distribution on the lower limb joints. These compensations may lead to changes in the spatio-temporal gait variables during pregnancy and postpartum and hence it is necessary to understand them. Method: We conducted a cohort study in which 84 pregnant women were recruited at or before 12th week of gestation and were studied through various trimesters and postpartum. Seventy pregnant women participated in the study and the spatio- temporal gait parameters were recorded using the 3-Step gait protocol on the Win-Track system through various trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the changes across the time periods. Results: The spatio-temporal gait variables analyzed were step duration, double stance duration, swing duration, step length, gait cycle length and cadence. All the gait parameters showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) across the measurement periods. The plantar surface area of the feet and the average peak pressure also exhibited a gradual increase in values with advancement of pregnancy and reduced in the postpartum period (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Pregnant women tend to walk at slower speed, with reduced step length, cadence and increased single stance duration and double stance duration in the third trimester compared to the earlier trimesters. The plantar surface area and the average peak pressure also exhibited significant changes across the measurement periods. All the variables reverted back to the first trimester values at six weeks postpartum.