Gait characteristics were assessed by use of an electronic gait mat, GAITRite® mat (CIR systems Inc. Sparta, US), with a 4.88 m active area in the middle of an 8.0 m walkway. Participants walked the gait mat back and forth at an instructed preferred gait speed with their usual walking aids, if needed. If two walking trials were available, the mean value from the trials was calculated. Data were processed using the PKmas® software, where the mean and within-subject standard deviation (SD) of the steps within a walk, and the left/right ratio of spatial and temporal gait variables were calculated by the software. Gait speed is a robust measure of health and function [25 (link)]. In addition to gait speed (m/s), we used the following gait variables: step time (s), walk ratio (step length/cadence, where cadence is steps/minute), and the variability measure SD stride velocity (cm/sec), selected as potential metrics relevant for postural control during gait [26 (link)].
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