Gait patterns of depressed patients and normal subjects

Abstract

The authors compared the gait patterns of 15 patients with affective disorders with those of 15 normal control subjects. The procedure involved a frame-by-frame analysis of a film of each subject walking at normal speed. Angle measurements were made of the hip and knee at their maximum extension during a single gait cycle (one stride). The results generally support the hypothesis that depressed patients walk with a lifting motion of the leg, whereas normal control subjects propel themselves forward.