The magnitude of forces acting on the proximal femur in various weight alleviating gait forms with reduced ground reaction forces

Abstract

To estimate the forces of the hip during partial or non-body-weight-bearing-gait a simple mechanical principle was used. For identification of the acting muscles of the hip during the swing period Electromyography was used. In the pure swing period without ground touch, being recommended as "de-loading" for the hip, forces resulted up to 85% of body-weight. In contrast to that, partial body-weight-bearing with limb-weight (approximately 12-15% body weight) resulted in the most efficient reduction of hip forces.