Abstract
The coordinative pattern is an important feature of locomotion that has been studied in a number of pathologies. It has been observed that adaptive changes in coordination patterns are due to both external and internal constraints. Obesity is characterized by the presence of excess mass at pelvis and lower-limb areas, causing mechanical constraints that central nervous system could manage modifying the physiological interjoint coupling relationships. Since an altered coordination pattern may induce joint diseases and falls risk, the aim of this study was to analyze whether and how coordination during walking is affected by obesity. We evaluated interjoint coordination during walking in 25 obese subjects as well as in a control group. The time-distance parameters and joint kinematics were also measured. When compared with the control group, obese people displayed a substantial similarity in joint kinematic parameters and some differences in the time-distance and in the coupling parameters. Obese subjects revealed higher values in stride-to-stride intrasubjects variability in interjoint coupling parameters, whereas the coordinative mean pattern was unaltered. The increased variability in the coupling parameters is associated with an increased risk of falls and thus should be taken into account when designing treatments aimed at restoring a normal locomotion pattern.
Highlights
Obesity is a pathology with multifactorial causes that is characterized by an increase in fat body mass and is linked to a signi cant increase in morbidity and mortality
We evaluated interjoint coordination during walking in 25 obese subjects as well as in a control group. e time-distance parameters and joint kinematics were measured
Lower-limb joint kinematic parameters in obese subjects walking at a self-selected velocity were found to be similar to those of healthy subjects [9]
Summary
Obesity is a pathology with multifactorial causes that is characterized by an increase in fat body mass and is linked to a signi cant increase in morbidity and mortality. Body movements are affected by the excess mass, which alters the individual’s range of motions and exerts excessive joint load, thereby causing a high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders [2]. As locomotion is one of the most important and frequent tasks in daily life, gait has been extensively analyzed in previous studies; some of which demonstrated that obesity alters the body’s motor scheme, in terms of time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic parameters [4, 5]. Differences emerged between obese and nonobese subjects walking at a standard gait speed in the angular kinematics of the lowerlimb joints [8], and in particular reductions in the hip, knee, and ankle range of motions (ROM) on the sagittal plane [6]. Lower-limb joint kinematic parameters in obese subjects walking at a self-selected velocity were found to be similar to those of healthy subjects [9]
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