Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters Research Articles

How Different Load Carriage Scenarios Impact the Gait in Police Officers

The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects on gait of carrying different standardized police loads. In this cross-sectional study, we randomly recruited 30 special police officers. Spatiotemporal and kinetic gait changes were evaluated by using the Zebris FDM pressure platform, when load carriage ranged from 5 to 45 kg. Heavier loading conditions significantly increased ground reaction forces and plantar pressures for both feet beneath the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions of the foot. However, as load increased there were no significant changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters. This study shows that heavier loads carried by special police officers significantly increase ground reaction forces and plantar pressures under different foot regions. Thus, special interventions aiming to lower kinetic gait parameters throughout a different ergonomics and design of standardized equipment should be considered.

Spatiotemporal gait patterns in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation: A hierarchical cluster analysis.

Gait pattern classification in individuals with lower-limb amputation could help in developing personalized prosthetic prescriptions and tailored gait rehabilitation. However, systematic classifications of gait patterns in this population have been scarcely explored. This study aimed to determine whether the gait patterns in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (UTFA) can be clustered into homogeneous subgroups using spatiotemporal parameters across a range of walking speeds. We examined spatiotemporal gait parameters, including step length and cadence, in 25 individuals with UTFA (functional level K3 or K4, all non-vascular amputations) while they walked on a split-belt instrumented treadmill at eight speeds. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to identify clusters with homogeneous gait patterns based on the relationships between step length and cadence. Furthermore, after cluster formation, post-hoc analyses were performed to compare the spatiotemporal parameters and demographic data among the clusters. HCA identified three homogeneous gait pattern clusters, suggesting that individuals with UTFA have several gait patterns. Further, we found significant differences in the participants' body height, sex ratio, and their prosthetic knee component among the clusters. Therefore, gait rehabilitation should be individualized based on body size and prosthetic prescription.

Hallway Gait Monitoring System Using an In-Package Integrated Dielectric Lens Paired with a mm-Wave Radar.

This paper presents a novel hallway gait extraction system that enables an individual's spatiotemporal gait parameter extraction at each gait cycle using a single FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) radar. The purpose of the proposed system is to detect changes in gait that may be the signs of changes in mobility, cognition, and frailty, particularly for older adults in retirement homes. We believe that one of the straightforward applications for gait monitoring using radars is in corridors and hallways, which are commonly available in most retirement and long-term care homes. To achieve in-corridor coverage, we designed an in-package hyperbola-based lens antenna integrated with a radar module package empowered by our fast and easy-to-implement gait extraction method. We validated system functionality by capturing spatiotemporal gait values (e.g., speed, step points, step time, step length, and step count) of people walking in a hallway. The results achieved in this work pave the way to explore the use of stand-alone radar-based sensors in long hallways in retirement apartment buildings or individual's homes for use in day-to-day long-term monitoring of gait parameters of older adults.

SPATIOTEMPORAL GAIT PARAMETERS, PELVIC MOVEMENTS AND PELVIC SYMMETRY DURING WALKING WITH SINGLE AND DUAL-TASKS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC NECK PAIN

Purpose: Neck pain is associated with gait disturbances. The first aim of this study was to examine spatiotemporal gait parameters, pelvic movements and pelvic symmetry during single and dual task conditions in persons with Chronic Idiopathic Neck Pain (CINP) compared to healthy subjects (HS). The second aim was to investigate the relationship between disability and gait in persons with CINP.
 Methods: Thirty-one individuals with CINP (mean age 22.06±1.38 years, range 18-56 years) and 24 HS (mean age 22.60±1.51 years, range 18-43 years) participated in the study. CINP group completed Neck Disability Index. All participants performed 10-meter walking test in two conditions: (1) walking with head straight at usual speed, (2) walking with head straight at usual speed while carrying a tray. The BTS G-Walk wearable sensor was used to assess spatiotemporal parameters (speed, cadence, step length), pelvic movements (tilt, obliquity, rotation), and pelvic symmetry.
 Results: During single task gait, the CINP group had significantly lower walking speed, shorter stride length and worse pelvic tilt symmetry (p

Gait analysis after total hip arthroplasty by direct minimally invasive anterolateral approach: A controlled study

IntroductionClinical and functional improvement after minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become increasingly controversial. The minimally invasive anterolateral approach (MIALA) allows rapid recovery resulting in a reduced need for rehabilitation. Alterations in muscle and static balance have previously been demonstrated. Results in the context of quantified gait analysis (QGA) and MIALA compared to an asymptomatic population remain unknown beyond one year postoperatively. Thus, the main objective of this controlled study was to compare the spatiotemporal parameters of gait, obtained using a QGA, beyond one year postoperatively in subjects operated on for THA by MIALA, with a group of asymptomatic subjects of the same age. The secondary objectives of the study were to compare the other QGA and EMG data acquired in operated subjects with asymptomatic subjects. HypothesisWe hypothesized that QGA and EMG parameters would not normalize beyond one year postoperatively. Patients and methodsThirty-one subjects were recruited, including 16 patients (68 years old; IQR: 65–70) who underwent MIALA, at 15.5 months postoperatively (IQR: 13–17) and 15 asymptomatic subjects (62 years old; IQR: 61–71). Subjects underwent QGA and maximal isometric muscle force tests on the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, Tensor Fascia Lata (TFL) and Sartorius muscles. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were the primary endpoint. The other QGA parameters: kinetics (characteristic values of vertical ground reaction forces, peak hip moments) and kinematics (hip joint amplitudes and pelvic mobility in the frontal and sagittal plane) constituted the secondary criteria. ResultsFive subjects were excluded for unrestored offset. Walking speed was lower in operated patients (1.03m/s versus 1.18m/s, p=0.005). Maximal isometric muscle force moments were lower in patients operated on for the gluteus maximus and medius as well as the TFL (p<0.005). The vertical ground reaction forces were lower for the operated patients for the loading phase (FzFCmax, p=0.001), the single stance phase (FzSPmin, p=5.05.10−2) and the swing phase (FzTOmax, p=0.0002). The moments were lower in the sagittal plane for the operated patients (0.6N.m for the operated versus 1.1N.m for the asymptomatic, p=0.02). The pelvic amplitudes in the sagittal plane were lower for operated patients (3.3° versus 7.2°, p=0.05). DiscussionOur hypothesis appears to be validated. Gait deficits persisted beyond one year postoperatively after THA with MIALA. A decrease in walking speed, maximal isometric muscle force of the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus and TFL was observed, as well as a decrease in propulsive force and peak hip moment. Functionally, these results could signify muscle damage following surgery, requiring rehabilitation for improved muscle function. Level of proofIII: Non-randomized controlled trial.

The effects of different carrying methods on human gait parameters

Lifting and carrying are essential tasks that affect human balance and gait. Choosing a certain gait pattern could help reduce the risk of falling. This study investigates the differences in human gait parameters and lateral bending of the trunk when carrying a 5-gallon water bottle, compared to that of normal walking. Several gait parameters were considered, including the cadence, stride width, step length, total double support duration, walking speed, toe angle, and single support duration. A laboratory experiment was conducted considering 23 healthy males, 18–30 years in age, performing several carrying scenarios, with and without the use of two assistive devices (a bottle lifting handgrip handle and back and lumbar support). The ProtoKinetics Zeno™ Walkway Gait Analysis System and the ProtoKinetics Movement Analysis Software were used to measure the spatiotemporal gait parameters. In addition, the lumbar spine's lateral bending was measured using Kinovea software. The results showed that the assistive carrying devices helped achieve less deviation in the walking pattern while carrying, compared to that of normal walking, and reduced the lateral bending of the trunk, resulting in greater balance while carrying. This, in turn, helps reduce the chance of falling and the stress in the joints and muscles, thereby increasing stability. In conclusion, carrying two 5-gallon water bottles using a handgrip handle assistive device was the most preferred carrying method.

Comparison ofgender,age, andbodymassindex forspatiotemporalparameters ofbilateralgaitpattern.

Background:Studies on thegaitsparameters have been identified on the patient population. Most researchers confirm thatthe patientswalk differently than normal people and they may have agreaterriskoffalls. Consistent finding and description of gender, age, and body mass index differences in gait studiesisrare in healthy subjects. This research wasperformedto compare spatiotemporal parameters of gait between gender, as per their age and body mass index level. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conductedwithforty-five young adults (F=20, M=25). Stadiometer andPhysilog4 inertial sensors were used for data collection.Agait analyzer 5.2 software (GaitUp, S.A. Lausanne, Switzerland) was used to determine spatiotemporal parameters. Results: Females were found withhighermean score of total double support and cadence than males. Cadence also increases with age. Obese people showed lower gait speed, cadence, andtotaldouble support.No statistically significant differences were found in any bilateral foot gait parameters with respect to gender, age, and body mass index. Conclusion:The findings of the study may be beneficial to those who haveabnormalgait pattern due to age, body mass index differences, decreased muscle strength, spasticity, and joint mobility. Thisimportant information should be considered to rehabilitate patients with abnormal gait patterns tocontrollingdynamic balance and risk of falling.

Comparison of spatiotemporal gait parameters and their variability in typically developing children aged 2, 3, and 6 years

Comparison of spatiotemporal gait parameters and their variability in typically developing children aged 2, 3, and 6 years

Efficacy of rectus femoris stretching on pain, range of motion and spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of rectus femoris stretching on pain intensity, knee range of motion (ROM), spatiotemporal gait parameters and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsThis...

Change in functional biomechanics following a targeted exercise intervention in patients with acetabular retroversion and femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

BackgroundAcetabular retroversion is a form of hip dysplasia that may cause femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), leading to pain and restricted hip range of motion. An exercise intervention aiming at altering pelvis tilt and related functional biomechanics may be a useful first-line intervention for patients who are not eligible for surgical repositioning. Research questionDoes squat and gait biomechanics change following an 8-week targeted exercise program in individuals with symptomatic acetabular retroversion and FAIS? MethodsThis prospective intervention study used participants as their own controls. Examinations were conducted at three time-points: T1 baseline; T2 following an 8-week control period; T3 after 8 weeks’ intervention. At each time-point, three-dimensional motion analysis of a deep squat and level gait was performed, and pain intensity was recorded using a numerical rating scale (NRS 0–10). The intervention consisted of a home-exercise program to improve core stability and pelvic movement. Differences in waveforms between time-points across pelvis and lower-limb biomechanics were evaluated using statistical parametric mapping. Delta (Δ, differences between T1-T2 and T2-T3) was used to evaluate changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters and pain. ResultsNineteen patients (18 females), mean age 22.6 (SD 4.5) years, BMI (kg/m2) 23.0 (SD 4.1), were included. Changes (Δ T1-T2 vs. Δ T2-T3) in squat biomechanics were observed as: (i) decreased anterior pelvic tilt, (ii) deeper vertical pelvis position, and (iii) increased knee flexion angle. Contrary, no significant changes in gait biomechanics, Δ walking speed, Δ step length, or NRS for pain were found. SignificanceFollowing a targeted exercise intervention, participants were able to squat deeper, potentially allowing better hip function. The deepened squat position was accompanied by increased knee flexion and reduced anterior pelvic tilt. Gait biomechanics and patient-reported pain remained unchanged post-intervention. These findings are important for future design of exercise interventions targeting pelvic tilt in symptomatic individuals.

Biomechanical Characteristics and Metabolic Efficiency of Gait in Young-old and Old-old People

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate and compare the biomechanical characteristics and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy efficiency of gait between the young-old and the old-old community dwelling people. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional study. <h3>Setting</h3> Clinical experimental study. <h3>Participants</h3> The elderly participants (N=78) were classified into the young-old (age range=65-74, mean age=70.2 ± 2.8 years, n=44) and the old-old (age range=75-84, mean age=77.9 ± 2.2 years, n=34) groups. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Spatiotemporal parameters (gait speed, cadence, step length, step width, and stride length), kinematics (angle of hip, knee, and ankle joint), kinetics (moment and power of hip, knee, and ankle joint), and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy efficiency during gait. <h3>Results</h3> Spatiotemporal gait parameters (gait speed, step length, and stride length) were significantly decreased in the old-old compared to the young-old group (p < 0.01). Peak ankle dorsiflexion angle, peak moment and peak power of knee and hip joints during gait were also significantly decreased in the old-old compared to the young-old group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). On the other hand, net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost showed no significant difference between groups. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The old-old and young-old people showed significantly different gait characteristics, which suggested a need of customized intervention strategy in two elderly groups for preventing age-related hazardous condition such as fall. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> Eunhye Chung1,2, Su-Hyun Lee2, and Yun-Hee Kim1,2,3 1. Department of Medical Device Management & Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, SAIHST, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 3. Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Department of Digital Health, Sungkyunkwan University, SAIHST, Seoul, Republic of Korea

The Influence of Cell Phone Usage on Dynamic Stability of the Body During Walking.

Dual-task walking and cell phone usage, which is associated with high cognitive load and reduced situational awareness, can increase risk of a collision, a fall event, or death. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of dual-task cell phone talking, texting, and reading while walking on spatiotemporal gait parameters; minimum foot clearance; and dynamic stability of the lower limb joints, trunk, and head. Nineteen healthy male participants walked on an instrumented treadmill at their self-selected speed as well as walking while simultaneously (1)reading on a cell phone, (2)texting, and (3)talking on a cell phone. Gait analyses were performed using an optical motion analysis system, and dynamic stability was calculated using the Maximum Lyapunov Exponent. Dual-task cell phone usage had a significant destabilizing influence on the lower limb joints during walking. Cell phone talking while walking significantly increased step width and length and decreased minimum foot clearance height (P < .05). The findings suggest that dual-task walking and cell phone conversation may present a greater risk of a fall event than texting or reading. This may be due to the requirements for more rapid information processing and cognitive demand at the expense of motor control of joint stability.

Validation of a Spatiotemporal Gait Model Using Inertial Measurement Units for Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease Detection During Turns.

Current inertial-based models were mostly limited to gait assessment of straight walking, which may not be efficient for detecting subtle gait disorders at an early stage of Parkinson's disease (PD). As PD patients exhibit more severe gait impairments during turns even before the appearance of gait disorders, gait characteristics during turning can provide promise in the identification of early-stage PD. We proposed a novel spatiotemporal gait model using inertial measurement units that can assess gait performance in both straight walking and turning. Ten healthy young, ten healthy elderly subjects and ten early-stage PD patients were enrolled in the validation experiment. All participants performed a 7-meter walk test consisting of a straight walking path and turns at a self-selected speed. Spatiotemporal gait parameters from the proposed model were compared with the Vicon motion capture system. A strong correlation of all spatiotemporal parameters (Pearson's R between 0.82 ∼ 0.99) between the inertial-based model and the reference was observed. Most measurement differences were within the mean ±1.96 standard deviation lines. The absolute bias was below 6.21 ms for all temporal gait parameters, 2.19 cm for stride length and 0.02 m/s for walking speed. We show that the proposed model does not only achieve a highly accurate and reliable spatiotemporal gait measurement but also enable the detection of significantly decreased stride length and reduced walking speed in early-stage PD patients at turns compared to the control groups. Our model offers a potential approach for early-stage PD detection.

Comparative Efficacy of Open-Chain Kinematics and Closed-Chain Kinematics on Walking Proficiency and Societal Integration in Post-Stroke Individuals

Background: Post-stroke hemiplegic gait is a mixture of deviations and compensatory motion dictated by residual function. To improve stroke survivors' walking ability, it is necessary to evaluate different rehabilitation approaches and identify those that have a greater effect on locomotor recovery of stroke patient. This will improve their general wellbeing by promoting better health and greater community participation, for faster societal integration. Aim: This study compared the effect of open-chain kinematics (bicycle ergometry) and closed-chain kinematics (treadmill) on walking proficiency in post-stroke individuals and their societal integration. Methods: This was a pretest-posttest experimental study involving 35 ambulatory hemiplegic stroke survivors (18 males and 17 females) with a mean age of (53.77 ± 10.95) undergoing rehabilitation at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. Patients went through 10-week rehabilitation and were randomly assigned to two intervention groups (treadmill and bicycle ergometry groups). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were measured by the six-metre walkway and community integrated questionnaire was used to examine home integration, social integration and productive activities. Data were subjected to inferential and descriptive statistics. Paired t-test was used to analyse the outcomes within the two groups and independent t-test was used to analyse the data between the groups. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Results showed significant difference between baseline and post intervention scores for all the gait parameters; stride length (p = 0.001), step length (p = 0.00), natural gait speed (p = 0.00), maximum gait speed (p = 0.01), cadence (p = 0.00) and community integration (p = 0.00) for the participants in the treadmill group; step length (p = 0.001), natural gait speed (p = 0.01), maximum gait (p = 0.02), cadence (p = 0.03) and community integration (p = 0.00) for the participants in the bicycle ergometer group except for stride length which showed no significance difference (p = 0.078). There was also a significant difference in the mean change in cadence between the treadmill and bicycle ergometer group (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Both open-chain and closed-chain kinematics are effective, but closed- chain is most effective in re-educating ambulation and re-gaining spatio-temporal gait parameters after stroke and should be structured into the patients’ treatment regimen to effectively improve functional capability in post-stroke individuals.

Gait Variability is Related to Pain Interference in Children with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To examine the relationship between variability of gait spatiotemporal parameters and pain interference in children with hypermobile spectrum disorder/hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (HSD/hEDS). <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional, prospective study. <h3>Setting</h3> Movement Analysis for Biomedical Innovation and Technology (Mobility) Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. <h3>Participants</h3> Thirteen children with HSD/hEDS; 3 males, 10 females; 14.2 ± 2.9 years of age, body mass index: 22.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Coefficient of variation (CV) was used to represent the variability of gait (CV = standard deviation (SD)/mean*100). The CV of step time, step length, gait speed, and cadence from five gait cycles were calculated. CV value greater than 3 SD from the mean was excluded from the analysis. The Brief Pain Inventory interference items related to daily activities (i.e., general activity, mobility, and going to school) were analyzed using a 0-10 scale where 0 is no interference and 10 is complete interference. Associations between gait variability and pain interference scores were analyzed using Pearson's correlation (r). <h3>Results</h3> The participants had CV of step time (n=12, 5.2 ± 9.5 CV%), step length (n=13, 5.5 ± 4.2 CV%), gait speed (n=13, 4.8 ± 2.5 CV%), and cadence (n=12, 5.7 ± 10.2 CV%). Brief Pain Inventory scores comprised general activity (2.5 ± 1.9), mobility (3.4 ± 2.0), and school (2.1 ± 2.8). Greater step length variability was moderately to strongly associated with greater pain interference with general activity (r=0.65, p=0.016), mobility (r=0.61, p=0.026), and going to school (r=0.78, p=0.003). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Increased gait variability was significantly correlated to pain interference during functional activities in children with HSD/hEDS. The variability may be due to altered muscle activation, disrupted proprioceptive feedback, and the instinct to protect from injury and provocative pain. Alterations in gait parameters and increased pain interference may reduce the quality of life. Future studies are needed to examine the mechanisms contributing to gait variability to guide patient-specific interventions for children with HSD/hEDS. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Walking asymmetry and its relation to patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures in individuals with unilateral lower limb loss

ABSTRACT Gait asymmetry persists for most people after lower limb amputation and is associated with slower walking speeds. However, the relationship between gait asymmetry and patient-reported function remains unclear because they are not commonly assessed together. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between gait asymmetries in people with lower limb loss and (1) patient-reported outcomes and (2) performance-based prosthetic functional measures. This cross-sectional analysis included nine people with unilateral limb loss aged 48.2 ± 13.1 years of mixed amputation etiology. Patient-reported outcomes included the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire mobility subscale and Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale. Performance outcomes included the Berg Balance Scale and the 30-second sit-to-stand test. Walking performance measures included the 2-Minute Walk Test, during which APDM Opal sensors recorded spatiotemporal gait parameters, and daily step-counts from StepWatch4 activity monitors. The study found that the most asymmetric gait symmetry ratios (prosthetic-limb divided by intact-limb) could be attributed to prosthetic foot dorsiflexion-plantarflexion and rotation motion limitations: prosthetic-limb trailing double support (0.789 ± 0.052), toe-off (0.760 ± 0.068) and toe-out angle (0.653 ± 0.256). Single limb stance, and stance and swing phase durations were most strongly associated with balance and walking performance measures. Notably, no symmetry ratio was significantly associated with patient-reported prosthetic function (unadjusted Pearson correlation coefficients r < 0.50, P > 0.05). More gait symmetry was associated with better balance and walking performance but had no significant relationship with patient-reported function. Although achieving gait symmetry after lower limb loss is a common walking goal, symmetry was unrelated to the perception of functional mobility for people with lower limb loss.

Spatiotemporal gait parameters in young individuals wearing an age simulation suit compared to healthy older individuals

IntroductionAging is accompanied by changes in muscle mass, strength and loss of sensory, visual and auditive functions. However, these changes do not occur linearly, most spatiotemporal gait parameters change with aging. Age simulation suits have been invented to give young people an impression of the implications of being older and may be a useful tool in the scientific setting for gerontology research to validate any study concept before it becomes a pilot study. The rationale behind this study was to investigate the effects of an age simulation suit on gait parameters in young healthy adults and to compare the altered gait with healthy older, community-dwelling citizens.MethodsSubjects were 14 healthy young adults (6 female) and 8 healthy older (4 female) individuals with a mean (± SD) age of 24.8 ± 3.4 years and 72 ± 1.9 years, respectively. After initial baseline measurements had been taken and a familiarization phase, the younger subjects walked for 15 min without and 15 min with an age simulation suit on an instrumented treadmill. The older subjects walked once for 15 min on the same treadmill without wearing an age simulation suit. The walking speed was self-selected for all subjects.ResultsThe age simulation suit reduced the walking speed from 4.1 ± 0.7 km/h to 3.3 ± 0.5 km/h (p < 0.001) in young adults with no differences compared to older adults (2.9 ± 0.6 km/h, p = 0.9). Step width increased from 8.7 ± 2.2 cm to 12.1 ± 2.2 cm (p < 0.001) and did not differ from older participants (11.1 ± 4.3 cm, p = 0.37). The stride length was reduced (132.6 ± 5.9 cm vs 118.1 +—6.6 cm, p < 0.001), but still did not match the old control group (94.5 ± 5.6 cm, p < 0.05). Wearing the suit increased thestride time of young subjects (from 1,152 to 1,316 ms, p < 0.001) and was different compared to the older control group (1,172 ms, p = 0.53). The coefficient of variation (COV) of spatiotemporal parameters did not differ between young (both not wearing the suit and wearing the suit) and older subjects. The standard deviation of lateral symmetry, an in-house marker from the instrumented treadmill that serves as a marker of gait variability, differed between young subjects without the suit and older subjects (5.89 ± 1.9 mm vs 14.6 ± 5.7 mm, p < 0.001) but not between young subjects wearing the suit and older subjects (16.4 ± 7.4 mm vs 14.6 ± 5.7 mm, p = 0.53).ConclusionWearing an age simulation suit while walking on a treadmill with a self-selected walking speed alters some, but not all, measured spatiotemporal parameters to approximate a gait pattern similar to that of an older individual.

Variability and symmetry of gait kinematics under dual-task performance of older patients with depression

BackgroundDepression in old age is associated with an increased fall risk. Especially in cognitively challenging situations, fall-promoting gait deviations could appear due to depression- and age-related cognitive deficits.AimThis study investigates (i) whether there are differences in gait performance between depressed older patients and healthy controls and (ii) if gait patterns aggravate when performing a cognitive task whilst walking.Methods16 depressed older patients (mean age: 73.1 ± 5.8 years) and 19 healthy controls (mean age: 73.3 ± 6.1 years) were included in the study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters (speed, stride length, swing time) and minimum toe clearance were recorded using a three-dimensional motion-capture system under a single- and a dual-task condition (counting backwards).ResultsAfter Bonferroni correction, depressed older patients showed significantly slower walking speed, shorter strides and smaller minimum toe clearance, as well as greater variability in stride length than healthy controls. Under the dual-task, gait performance deteriorated compared with single-task, with slower gait speed, shorter strides, and longer swing time.DiscussionSlower walking speed and shorter steps of depressed patients may be a strategy to counteract their fall risk. Increased variability suggests a less stable gait pattern in patients, which could be a reason for their increased fall risk.ConclusionsDepression in old age has a strong effect on gait performance. Possible interventions that might prevent falls in this vulnerable group are discussed. The study was registered at Open Science Framework on May 18, 2021 (publicly accessible May 30, 2023).

Auditory Stimulation Improves Gait and Posture in Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review with Between- and Within-Group Meta-Analysis.

The past decade has seen an increased interest in the implementation of auditory stimulation (AStim) for managing gait and postural deficits in people with cerebral palsy. Although existing reviews report beneficial effects of AStim on the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait, there are still numerous limitations that need to be addressed to correctly interpret these results. For instance, existing reviews have failed to characterize the effects of AStim by conducting separate between and within-group meta-analyses, these reviews have not evaluated the influence of AStim on postural outcomes, and nor have included several high-quality existing trials. In this study, we conducted between- and within-group meta-analyses to establish a state of evidence for the influence of AStim on gait and postural outcomes in people with cerebral palsy. We searched the literature according to PRISMA-P guidelines across 10 databases. Of 1414 records, 14 studies, including a total of 325 people with cerebral palsy, met the inclusion criterion. We report a significant enhancement in gait speed, stride length, cadence, and gross motor function (standing and walking) outcomes with AStim compared to conventional physiotherapy. The findings from this analysis reveal the beneficial influence of AStim on the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait and postural stability in people with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, we discuss the futurized implementation of smart wearables that can deliver person-centred AStim rehabilitation in people with cerebral palsy.

Instantaneous effect of real-time avatar visual feedback on interlimb coordination during walking post-stroke

BackgroundGait asymmetry, which is common after stroke, is typically characterized using spatiotemporal parameters of gait that do not consider the aspect of movement coordination. In this manuscript, we examined whether an avatar-based feedback provided as a single-session intervention to improve gait symmetry also improved inter-limb coordination among people with stroke and we examined the relationship between changes in coordination and step length symmetry. MethodsTwelve stroke participants walked on a self-paced treadmill with and without a self-avatar that replicated their locomotor movements in real time. Continuous relative phase and angular coefficient of correspondence calculated using bilateral sagittal hip movements were used to quantify temporal and spatial interlimb coordination, respectively. Spatial gait symmetry, previously shown to improve with the avatar feedback, was quantified using step length ratio between both limbs, with the largest value as numerator. FindingsParticipants who improved their spatial symmetry during avatar exposure also improved their temporal coordination, while spatial coordination remained unchanged. Overall, improvements in spatial symmetry correlated positively with improvements in temporal coordination. The non-paretic hip and paretic ankle angle excursion in the sagittal plane also significantly increased during avatar exposure. InterpretationImprovements in gait symmetry may be explained by changes in interlimb coordination. Current data and existing literature further suggest that such improvements are largely driven by adaptations in non-paretic leg movements, notably at the hip. By providing real-time information on walking movements not affordable in other ways, avatar-based feedback shows great potential to improve gait symmetry and interlimb coordination post-stroke.