The difference in gait pattern between adults with obesity and adults with a normal weight, assessed with 3D-4D gait analysis devices: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to identify the difference in gait pattern between adults with obesity and adults with a normal bodyweight assessed with 3D-4D gait analysis (3D-4DGA) devices.

Methods: Articles about the spatiotemporal parameters of adults with obesity compared with adults with a normal bodyweight using a 3DGA were sought on the 4th of October 2023 in three different databases (PubMed, Web of Science and IEEE). A total of 3371 articles were found: 2065 with PubMed, 1185 with Web of Science, and 121 with IEEE. The data was screened double-blind. Fourteen case control studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, and for all of them, the risk of bias was determined. Obesity was defined using the BMI, with a range of 30 kg/m² until 54.06 kg/m². Participants from both sexes (35% men and 65% women) were included, and they had an age range of 18-65 years.

Results and discussion: The risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle Ottowa Scale (NOS), and the certainty of evidence was assessed with the Evidence-Based Richtlijn Ontwikkeling (EBRO). The meta-analysis showed a decrease in gait speed and cadence and an increase in stance phase, double stance, and step width. No significant difference was found regarding stride length. In the systematic review, step length, step rate, and swing phase were found to have decreased. Regarding the single stance, step time, CoM, and CoP, no conclusions could be drawn.

Conclusion: There is a difference in gait parameters between adults with obesity and adults with a normal bodyweight. Namely, the gait speed, step rate, step length, swing phase is decreased in adults with obesity. However, there is an increase in step width, stance phase, and double stance phase.