paslengte

Paslengte is a biomechanical term used in gait analysis to describe the length of a single step. In Dutch usage it is commonly linked to step length—the distance between the initial contact of one foot and the initial contact of the opposite foot. Some sources distinguish paslengte from stride length, which is the distance between successive contacts of the same foot, so the exact meaning can vary by discipline and context.

Measurement of paslengte can occur in laboratory settings with motion capture and force plates, or in real-world use via wearable sensors such as inertial measurement units or pressure-sensitive insoles, as well as through video-based analysis. It is typically reported as an average over several steps and may be presented as a single value or as a distribution. Paslengte is tightly connected to speed, since walking speed equals step length multiplied by cadence (steps per minute). Longer paslengte at a given cadence yields higher speed.

Typical values for adults at comfortable walking speed are roughly 0.5 to 0.8 meters per step, with stride length generally around 1.0 to 1.6 meters, depending on height and leg length. Paslengte increases with speed and leg length and tends to decrease on inclines or with fatigue. It is influenced by age, neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, and footwear.

Applications of paslengte include clinical gait assessment, monitoring rehabilitation progress after injury, and performance analysis in sports. In practice, it is often considered together with cadence, walking speed, and, when relevant, stride length.