Differences In Gait Parameters Research Articles

Effects of a secondary task on obstacle avoidance in healthy young adults

Research on attention and gait stability has suggested that the process of recovering gait stability requires attentional resources, but the effect of performing a secondary task on stability during obstacle avoidance is poorly understood. Using a dual-task paradigm, the present experiment investigated the extent to which young adults are able to respond to a secondary auditory Stroop task (requiring executive attentional network resources) concurrently with obstacle crossing during gait when compared with performing unobstructed walking or sitting (control task). Our results demonstrated that as the level of difficulty in the postural task increased, there was a significant reduction in verbal response time from congruent to incongruent conditions in the auditory Stroop task, but no differences in gait parameters, indicating that these postural tasks require attention, and that young adults use a strategy of modulating the auditory Stroop task performance while keeping stable gait performance under the dual-task situations. Our findings suggest the existence of a hierarchy of control within both postural task (obstacle avoidance requires the most information processing resources) and dual-task (with gait stability being a priority) conditions.

Ergebnisse aus Messungen der Bodenreaktionskraft vor und nach Implantation einer Hüfttotalendoprothese bei unterschiedlichen Operationszugängen

Benefits of less damage of soft tissues and muscles in minimally invasive hip replacement lead to expectations of better results in gait rehabilitation. The aim of the study is to evaluate post-operative walking ability in terms of different surgical approaches. 16 patients underwent a minimally invasive total hip replacement (MIS group) and 16 other patients got a THA using a transgluteal approach (standard group). Differences in functional indices of ground reaction forces and symmetry indices were measured one day pre-operatively as well as 8, 14 and 28 weeks post-operatively. The results were compared between the surgical approaches and to an age-matched healthy control group. There are significantly reduced pain symptoms and a higher functional ability in both surgical groups 8 weeks post-operatively. There are no differences in gait parameters between the surgical groups after 28 weeks. Trends in gait velocity, temporal parameters and in functional indices of ground reaction forces show advantages for the minimally invasive group 8 and 14 weeks post-operatively. Patients do not reach the age-matched control group. Obviously the immediate post-operative advantages of minimally invasive hip replacement provide better chances for gait rehabilitation compared to the transgluteal approach. Due to the complexity of the problem clinical and gait analysis studies should be linked more closely.

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GAIT WHILE PERFORMING THE DYNAMIC GAIT INDEX IN PERSONS WITH AND WITHOUT BALANCE AND VESTIBULAR DISORDERS

Purpose/Hypothesis: Persons with balance and vestibular disorders complain of difficulty walking, especially with head movement. The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is comprised of an observational battery of 8 walking tasks that allows a clinician to evaluate the impact of head movements plus speed and direction changes on gait performance. The underlying temporal and spatial aspects of gait that are associated with the DGI are unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the temporal and spatial gait characteristics that are associated with gait dysfunction during performance of level walking items of the DGI in persons with and without balance and vestibular dysfunction. Number of Subjects: Forty seven subjects (mean age: 59.2 years, s.d. 18.5, range 24–90) participated in a descriptive cross sectional study (26 control subjects and 21 persons with balance and/or vestibular dysfunction). Materials/Methods: Tree trials of each level gait item were administered to subjects as they ambulated on a 13.5 meter instrumented (GAITrite) walkway. Temporal and spatial gait characteristics were measured using GAITRite software (Version 3.4). Test-retest reliability [Intra class correlation coefficient (ICC 3,1)] across three trials was determined for gait parameters associated with continuous walking (velocity, cadence) and the item requiring turning and stopping quickly (number of steps, ambulation time). Step length variability (coefficient of variation) was calculated. Mean gait parameter differences between control subjects and patients were compared using an independent sample t-test. Results: The ICCs (velocity, cadence) for all DGI items except turn and stop varied between 0.92–0.99. The ICC for the turn and stop item for the number of steps was 0.68 and ambulation time was 0.70. There were no patient/control differences in test-retest reliabilities on the DGI items that required continuous walking. Ambulation time on the walk, turn and stop showed significantly greater reliability in patients versus controls. For the continuous walking items, control subjects demonstrated significantly higher mean velocities and cadence than persons with vestibular dysfunction (p<;0.05). For the turn and stop item, there were no differences between the two groups on ambulation time (p=0.06) or step count (p=0.31). Patients demonstrated greater step length variability for walking with head movements, changing speeds and stepping over objects. Patients had a significantly greater mean base of support at heel strike for level walking, walking with head movements and stepping over objects. Conclusions: The temporal and spatial gait parameters underlying dynamic gait, as defined by the DGI, demonstrated good to excellent test-retest reliability and internal structure validity. Clinical Relevance: With enhanced knowledge of underlying gait abnormalities, targeted interventions can be developed to best remediate gait dysfunction in persons with vestibular disorders.

Age-related slip avoidance strategy while walking over a known slippery floor surface

When confronted with impending slip/fall situations, gait parameters are adjusted accordingly to avoid slipping. This study was conducted to assess age-related slip avoidance strategy by measuring gait parameters and muscle activity characteristics of the lower extremities (hamstrings, calves, and quadriceps) of both young and older participants while ambulating successfully over a known slippery floor surface. Fourteen younger and 14 older adults participated in this study. First, a baseline measure was collected to study normal gait prior to any exposure to slipping. A second measure was collected following a slip from a contaminated floor surface, but before the initiation of a second slip, where the participants were able to view the contaminated surface before traversing it. The results indicated that there were significant gait parameter differences between normal-dry walking conditions and contaminated-slippery walking conditions. In general, participants (young and old) reduced step length, friction utilization, and heel contact velocity from normal gait to adjusted gait conditions. Furthermore, results also indicated that there were differences in gait parameters and muscle activity characteristics between the two age groups for both a normal gait condition and a gait condition requiring adjustment. Findings suggested that older individuals required an additional step to properly adjust gait for a contaminated walking surface.

Identification of healthy elderly fallers and non-fallers by gait analysis under dual-task conditions

Objective: We compared falling and non-falling healthy elderly subjects to identify balance disorders associated with falling. Gait parameters were determined when carrying out single and dual tasks. Design: Case comparison study. Setting: Subjects were studied in the gait laboratory at Hopital Roger Salengro, Lille, France. Subjects: A group of 40 healthy elderly women were assigned to one of two groups according to their falling history: 21 fallers aged 70.4±6.4 years and 19 non-fallers aged 67.0±4.8 years. All subjects performed first a single leg balance test with two conditions (eyes open/closed). Then, gait parameters were analysed under single-task and dual motor-task conditions (walking with a glass of water in the hand). Main measures: Falls, number of times suspended foot touched the floor during the single leg balance test, cadence, speed, stride time, step time, single-support time, stride length and step length during walking under single- and dual-task conditions. Results: During the single leg balance test, fallers placed their feet on the floor three times more often than non-fallers under eyes open conditions (P < 0.05) and twice as often under eyes closed conditions (P < 0.05). In the single-task condition, no significant difference in gait parameters was reported between fallers and non fallers. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the gait parameters (cadence, speed, stride and step time, single-support time) between fallers and non-fallers under dual-task conditions. Conclusions: Dual tasks perturb walking in fallers, who exhibit deteriorated static balance. Consequently, walking under dual-task conditions plus a single leg balance test could be helpful in detecting walking disorders and planning physiotherapy to prevent falls.

Gait Evaluation of an Automatic Stance-Control Knee Orthosis in a Patient With Postpoliomyelitis

Hebert JS, Liggins AB. Gait evaluation of an automatic stance-control knee orthosis in a patient with postpoliomyelitis. Objective To determine gait differences in a subject ambulating with a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with a locked knee joint versus an automatic stance-control knee joint. Design Single-subject crossover design. Setting Tertiary rehabilitation facility with a motion analysis laboratory. Participant A 61-year-old ambulatory male volunteer with postpoliomyelitis walking with a stance-control KAFO. Interventions Instrumented gait analysis and Physiological Cost Index in the locked knee and stance-control modes. Main Outcome Measure Differences in gait parameters. Results On the braced limb, stance-control mode showed a near-normal knee flexion wave in swing, reduced pelvic retraction and rotational excursion, and improved hip power generation. On the nonbraced limb, the stance-control mode allowed elimination of vaulting, reduction in abnormal ankle and hip power generation, increased knee power absorption, and more typical quadriceps activation. There was a trend toward improved energy efficiency in the stance-control mode. Conclusions Use of a stance-control knee joint in a KAFO appears to improve gait biomechanics and improve energy efficiency compared with a locked knee.

The Effects of Age on Gait Parameters during Adjustment

Further understanding causes and characteristics of slip and fall accidents may aid in prevention of severe injuries and fatalities that result from these accidents. Moreover, understanding mechanisms associated with gait adjustment across a known slippery surface may help in proactively avoiding slips and falls. This study involved examination gait parameter characteristics of the lower extremities during different walking conditions. This study consisted of exposing 14 younger and 14 older participants to controlled slippery conditions safely, while studying normal and adjusted gait characteristics (friction requirement, heel contact velocity, and step length). First, a baseline measure was done to study normal gait prior to any exposure to slipping. A second measure was done following a slip from a contaminated floor surface, but before the initiation of a second slip. The results indicate that there are significant gait parameter differences between younger and older individuals. Findings suggest that older individuals require an additional step to properly adjust gait for a contaminated walking surface.

Effect of an arm sling on gait pattern in patients with hemiplegia

Yavuzer G, Ergin S. Effect of an arm sling on gait pattern in patients with hemiplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:960-3. Objective: To investigate the effect of an arm sling on gait patterns of patients with hemiplegia. Design: Crossover design of 3-dimensional gait analysis and concomitant video recordings performed during a single session. Setting: Rehabilitation ward gait laboratory of a university hospital. Participants: Thirty-one patients (20 men, 11 women) with hemiplegia with an average age of 53.1±9.7 years and 31 age-, sex-, height-, and weight-matched able-bodied persons. Interventions: All patients with hemiplegia and able-bodied controls walked at self-selected speed over a 10-m walkway, either with or without an arm sling. Main Outcome Measures: Time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic parameters of gait. Results: The able-bodied group did not show any difference in gait parameters while using the sling. However, in patients with hemiplegia wearing a sling, walking speed and stance period of the paretic side increased, double support time of the paretic side decreased, excursion of the center of gravity (COG) decreased, and weight bearing of the paretic side increased. Conclusions: An arm sling improved gait, especially during gait training sessions of patients with hemiplegia who have impaired body image and excessive motion of the COG. © 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The effect of exercise on gait and balance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

This study investigated anecdotal reports of gait and balance abnormalities in subjects with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) by examining the effects of a light exercise test on postural sway and various gait parameters. Tests were performed on 11 CFS patients and 11 age- and sex-matched sedentary controls. Results demonstrated that postural sway was not significantly different in both groups before or after the exercise test. There were, however, significant differences in gait parameters between the two groups confirming anecdotal evidence, but these differences were not exacerbated by the exercise test. Heart rate responses demonstrated that both groups were exercising at similar loads, although this was perceived to be higher by the CFS group.

Differences in gait parameters at a preferred walking speed in healthy subjects due to age, height and body weight.

The objective of our cross-sectional study was to investigate the changes associated with age and gender in walking speed, stride length and cadence of healthy women and men over the adult age range, and establish the effects of anthropometric indices such as height and body weight. We examined 118 women and 121 men (age range, 19-90 years). Subjects walked at their preferred speed over a 12-meter walkway crossing two Kistler force plates: cadence was calculated from heel strike times recorded from the Kistler force plates; walking speed was measured using an infrared reflecting system; and stride length was calculated from the walking speed and cadence. Older healthy subjects had lower values for walking speed and stride length than younger subjects. While there is little difference in the percentage reduction between women and men over the adult age range. the absolute values for walking speed are lower in women than men at all ages. In women, the percentage of explained variance for decline in walking speed was 30%, and for decline in stride length 400%. If body weight was also taken into account, the percentage of explained variance for walking speed was 37%, and for stride length 59%. A similar calculation for men yields 34% for decline in walking speed, and 42% for decline in stride length. Cadence was not associated with age, height and body weight. The standard errors for the estimates of walking speed in both women and men, respectively, are reduced by 8% and 3% using the multiple regression technique. The corresponding standard errors for stride length were reduced by, respectively, 19% and 13% if height in either sexes, or height and body weight in women, were taken into account. In conclusion, preferred walking speed and stride length decline with age in healthy people. Lower values found in old healthy subjects partly contributed to the difference in height and body weight between old and young subjects. Cadence was not correlated with age, height and body weight.

Comparison of the Seattle Lite Foot and Genesis II Prosthetic Foot during walking and running

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Genesis II foot enhanced function in unilateral belowknee amputees in comparison with the Seattle foot. Ten unilateral amputees were tested with gait analysis, energy consumption, and agility tests wearing the Seattle foot and the Genesis foot in conjunction with a subject satisfaction survey. Gait analysis found no significant differences in gait parameters, although peak dorsiflexion was increased with the Genesis foot in comparison with the Seattle foot. The Genesis foot also had an increase in power absorption and generation in comparison with the Seattle foot. No significant differences were found in energy consumption and agility tests. Subjects found the Genesis foot to excel in the ability to go up hills, in propulsion, and in maneuverability on uneven ground in comparison with the Seattle foot. The increased motion and power generation found in subjects wearing the Genesis foot appears to enhance function during walking and running. These findings correlated well with subject impression of foot function.

Identification of kinetic differences between fallers and nonfallers in the elderly.

Falls are a major cause of decreased mobility and disability in the elderly. Multiple factors are believed to contribute to falling. Among these, gait abnormalities have drawn attention as a possible risk factor. Although previous studies have revealed few differences in gait parameters compared with similar aged controls, it was hypothesized that because of intrinsic differences in balance and motor control, we would observe differences in joint kinetics. In this study, 15 subjects (mean age, 77 +/- 9 yr), who had at least 2 mo of repeated falls from an unclear cause, were evaluated in a gait laboratory and were compared with a control group of 15 subjects (mean age, 75 +/- 5 yr) with no history of falls. Analysis of data demonstrated a significantly greater peak torque in the falls group for the following: hip flexion, hip adduction, knee extension, knee varum, ankle dorsiflexion, and ankle eversion (P < 0.003 in each comparison). Also, ankle plantarflexion torque was significantly decreased in the falls group (P = 0.001). Joint powers showed different absorption at the knee and ankle in the falls group. The discovery of these kinetic differences may provide further insight into the mechanism of falls in the elderly and, more importantly, lead to identifiable markers to detect those who may be susceptible to falls.

128 Electrophysiology and morphology of neurons in dorsal commissural nucleus of rat sacral spinal cord

Motor impairment appears as a characteristic symptom of several diseases and injuries. Therefore, tests for analyzing motor dysfunction are widely applied across preclinical models and disease stages. Among those, gait analysis tests are commonly used, but they generate a huge number of gait parameters. Thus, complications in data analysis and reporting raise, which often leads to premature parameter selection.In order to avoid arbitrary parameter selection, we present here a systematic initial data analysis by utilizing heat-maps for data reporting. We exemplified this approach within an intervention study, as well as applied it to two longitudinal studies in rodent models related to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington disease (HD).The systematic initial data analysis (IDA) is feasible for exploring gait parameters, both in experimental and longitudinal studies. The resulting heat maps provided a visualization of gait parameters within a single chart, highlighting important clusters of differences.Often, premature parameter selection is practiced, lacking comprehensiveness. Researchers often use multiple separated graphs on distinct gait parameters for reporting. Additionally, negative results are often not reported.Heat mapping utilized in initial data analysis is advantageous for reporting clustered gait parameter differences in one single chart and improves data mining.