The Effect of Dominant and Non-dominant Upper Limb Splinting on 3-D Mechanical Muscle Power of Ankle Joint During Walking

Abstract

Background: Although immobilizing the upper limb is known to aid rehabilitation and improve symptoms for specific conditions, there is evidence suggesting that casting or splinting the upper limb can substantially alter walking biomechanics, including kinetics, kinematics, and spatiotemporal aspects. Objectives: This study aimed to explore how unilateral casting of either the dominant or non-dominant upper limb affects the maximum three-dimensional mechanical power of the ankle joint during walking. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 healthy women (average age ± standard deviation: 29.5 ± 3.45 years) participated. They walked under three conditions: Without immobilization, with immobilization of the dominant upper limb, and with immobilization of the non-dominant upper limb, along a path equipped with force plates and cameras. The instantaneous muscle power at the ankle joint in each plane was measured. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify significant differences among the three conditions. Results: Significant changes were observed in all parameters of maximum power generation and absorption at the ankle joint across all planes when walking with the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs splinted (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Considering that muscle power is a crucial biomechanical parameter during walking, the observed alterations in this parameter due to upper limb splinting highlight the need for awareness to prevent potential walking difficulties when using upper limb braces.