ABSTRACT
Background: Human gait can be affected by factors such as age, disorders, pain and mood. The body’s anthropometry may affect gait.
Aim: The study determined the correlation between selected anthropometric indices and spatial gait parameters of nurses in selected secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Benin City.
Method: This ex post facto study recruited 220 apparently healthy nurses. The weight and height were measured to obtain the Body Mass Index, thigh circumference and hip circumference were measured. The participant's foot was stained with poster colour and was asked to walk on white paper. The step length, stride length, step width and foot angle were measured. Data collected were summarized using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. Data was analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation. Alpha level was set at 0.05.
Result: The result showed the mean Body Mass Index was 27.99 ±5.64 Kg/m². The mean values of the hip circumference, thigh circumference and waist circumference was determined to be 109.55 ±13.47cm, 60.79 ±12.09 cm and 91.20 ±17.14cm respectively. The mean spatial gait parameters of the participants was determined. A positive significant correlation was found between Body Mass Index and step width( r =0.596, p< 0.001), foot angle (r=0.477, p< 0.001).A negative significant relationship was found between Body Mass Index and step length(r= -0.345, p<0.001). A significant correlation was also found between the other anthropometric indices and spatial gait parameters.
Conclusion: The study showed that there was significant correlation between anthropometric indices and spatial gait parameter of nurses in selected secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Benin City. Anthropometric indices of the participants had a significant impact on the spatial gait parameters.
Keywords: Anthropometric indices, spatial gait parameters.
