Kinematic Parameters of Movement at the Shoulder Joint in Normal Gait in Humans

Abstract

Study objective: to determine the kinematic parameters of the shoulder joint in the normal human gait. Materials and methods. A Vicon programmable system for motion capture and analysis was used to study 10 selected men with near-absolute symmetry of upper limb movements. Results. Quantitative measures of kinematic movement parameters at the shoulder joint in the arm transfer cycle during walking were obtained. Flexion-extension and abduction of the upper limbs during the stepping cycle were symmetrical and coincided with the minimal internal rotation only in the middle of the cycle. Swinging of the arms during walking can be compared with the movements of a pendulum with its center at the shoulder joint with a movement amplitude of 24.6 ± 2.4°. Conclusions. The data obtained here serve as standards and provide for comparative analysis of upper limb movements in patients with arm locomotion disorders, and are also of value in prosthetization and robotics.