Gait characteristics of subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome and controls at self-selected and matched velocities

Lorna Paul,William Maclaren,Danny Rafferty,Leslie Wood

doi:10.1186/1743-0003-5-16

Abstract

BackgroundGait abnormalities have been reported in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) however no studies exist to date investigating the kinematics of individuals with CFS in over-ground gait. The aim of this study was to compare the over-ground gait pattern (sagittal kinematics and temporal and spatial) of individuals with CFS and control subjects at their self-selected and at matched velocities.MethodsTwelve individuals with CFS and 12 matched controls participated in the study. Each subject walked along a 7.2 m walkway three times at each of three velocities: self-selected, relatively slow (0.45 ms-1) and a relatively fast (1.34 ms-1). A motion analysis system was used to investigate the sagittal plane joint kinematics and temporal spatial parameters of gait.ResultsAt self-selected velocity there were significant differences between the two groups for all the temporal and spatial parameters measured, including gait velocity (P = 0.002). For the kinematic variables the significant differences were related to both ankles during swing and the right ankle during stance. At the relatively slower velocity the kinematic differences were replicated. However, the step distances decreased in the CFS population for the temporal and spatial parameters. When the gait pattern of the individuals with CFS at the relatively fast walking velocity (1.30 ± 0.24 ms-1) was compared to the control subjects at their self-selected velocity (1.32 ± 0.15 ms-1) the gait pattern of the two groups was very similar, with the exception of both ankles during swing.ConclusionThe self-selected gait velocity and/or pattern of individuals with CFS may be used to monitor the disease process or evaluate therapeutic intervention. These differences may be a reflection of the relatively low self-selected gait velocity of individuals with CFS rather than a manifestation of the condition itself.

Highlights

Gait abnormalities have been reported in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) no studies exist to date investigating the kinematics of individuals with CFS in over-ground gait
Whilst it is interesting to compare the kinematics of gait at a number of different velocities the study utilised a treadmill for walking and the debate continues as to whether the gait pattern during treadmill walking is comparable to over-ground walking [5,6,7]
Self-selected velocity The mean self-selected velocity of the CFS and control groups was 0.99 ms-1 (± 0.27 ms-1) and 1.32 ms-1 (± 0.15 ms-1) respectively (P = 0.002), At the self-selected velocity there was a significant difference between the two groups for all the temporal and spatial variables (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Gait abnormalities have been reported in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) no studies exist to date investigating the kinematics of individuals with CFS in over-ground gait. Whilst there is a clinical impression that those with CFS display a different gait pattern compared to their healthy peers there is a paucity of studies investigating the effect of CFS on gait. The researchers identified that those with CFS displayed significant differences in a number of the kinematic variables compared to the healthy control group. They reported reduced knee flexion during stance and swing at the slower velocity (0.45 ms-1) and increased hip flexion during stance and swing phases at the faster velocity (1.34 ms-1). Whilst it is interesting to compare the kinematics of gait at a number of different velocities the study utilised a treadmill for walking and the debate continues as to whether the gait pattern during treadmill walking is comparable to over-ground walking [5,6,7]

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