Conclusive analytical evidence is provided to show that higher speed cameras and optoelectric systems are not normally necessary for higher-level biomechanical assessments of pathological gait. The evidence comes from a simple comparison of gait assessments done at 50 frames per second with that done at 25 frames per second. Kinetic assessments that were sensitive to sampling rates showed insignificant differences. Example analyses of angular velocities, total body energy and joint muscle moments of both normal and pathological gait demonstrate the redundancy of the 50 Hz frame rate. Thus it was concluded that, when considering frame rate requirements inexpensive standard 16 mm cine cameras (24 frames per second) or television cameras 930 frames per second) can be used rather than the far more expensive higher-speed systems.