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Objective To analyze and summarize the gait characteristics of patients with sciatica, so as to assist with diagnosis and evaluation for such patients in clinic. Methods Forty-three patients with lumbar disc herniation accompanied by siatica were fitted with portable gait analyzer, and required to walk at the self-selected comfortable speed for a distance of 120 m. Forty-three healthy subjects with matched age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were recruited as control. The gait data including 7 spatial-temporal parameters (single-support duration, double-support duration, ratio of single-support duration to double-support duration, duration of gait cycle, step speed, step frequency, step length) and 4 acceleration parameters (pulling acceleration, swing power, ground impact, foot fall) were collected to compare the gait differences between patients and healthy subjects, as well as between affected and healthy limbs of patients. Results The single-support duration, ratio of single-support duration to double-support duration, step speed, step frequency, step length and four acceleration parameters of patients with sciatica were obviously smaller than those of healthy subjects, while the double-support duration of patients with sciatica was increased. The affected limb of patients with sciatica showed a significant decrease in single-support duration, step frequency and all four acceleration parameters but increase in step length as compared to their healthy limbs. Conclusions Patients with sciatica have significant gait abnormalities due to their affected limbs, which influence their walking ability. Portable gait analyzer can be used for objectively characterizing the walking abnormalities of patients, so as to provide additional information for the clinical diagnosis and evaluation.
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Objective To assess the surgical and rehabilitation effects of total hip arthroplasty (THA) through comparing changes of gait parameters in patients before and after THA.MethodsThe gaits of 7 THA patients during their natural walking before THA and in the 25th week after THA were tested by using a portable gait analyzer (IDEEA, MiniSun, USA). The gait parameters including single limb support (SLS) time, double-limb support (DLS) time, SLS/DLS, stride length, foot fall strength were collected for statistic analysis by SPSS 16.0 and Excel 2010. Results The SLS of the healthy leg after THA significantly decreased (P<0.05); for the majority of THA patients, the SLS of the diseased leg decreased, the DLS and SLS/DLS of the healthy leg also decreased obviously, while the foot fall strength of the diseased leg increased after THA. Conclusions The SLS of the healthy leg can be used as a sensitive parameter to evaluate the operation effect of THA. The portable gait analysis system can quantitatively reflect the subject’s gait, thus it is a non-invasive and convenient method of evaluating the operation effect in clinic.
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Objective To investigate the effects of overweight and obesity on the gait of primary school children by comparing the kinematic parameters between overweight/obese children and normal weight children during level walking. Methods Forty overweight/obese children (age: (9.6±1.72) year; height: (142.16±12.19) cm; BMI: (24.32±2.96) kg/m2) and 50 normal weight healthy children (age: (10.26±0.72) year; height: (139.0±7.50) cm; BMI: (17.08±1.25) kg/m2) were recruited as the subjects. All of the subjects completed 3 walking trials at preferred speed along a 10 m walkway with barefoot. A digital video camera was used to record these subjects’ level walking images, and their gait parameters, such as step length, stride length and joint angle of the lower extremity, were obtained through Shixun motion analysis system. SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis. A paired t-test was used to assess differences of all the variables between lefe side and right side for the subjects. An independent t-test was used to assess differences of all the variables between the overweight/obese and normal weight children. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Results (1) There were significant differences between overweight/obese children ((0.44±0.001)) and normal weight children ((0.45±0.001)) for relative step length (P<0.05). (2) There were significant differences in left hip and knee joint angle in the frontal plane between overweight/obese children (left hip angle: (165.36±5.29)°, left knee angle: (178.82±5.51)°, right knee angle: (177.84±5.25)°) and normal weight children (left hip angle: (161.99±4.28)°, left knee angle: (174.67±4.91)°, right knee angle: (174.67±4.91)°) during heel strike phase (P<0.05). Significant differences were found in the left ankle joint angle of the frontal plane during toe off phase between overweight/obese children((121.73±8.03)°) and normal weight children((118.44±6.70)°)(P<0.05). Conclusions Relative step length of overweight/obese children was significantly smaller than that of normal weight children during level walking. The left hip and knee joint angle in the frontal plane of overweight/obese children during heel strike phase were significantly larger than those of normal weight children. The left ankle joint angle in the frontal plane of overweight/obese children during toe off phase was significantly larger than that of normal weight children. These differences may affect the function of the lower extremity in overweight/obese children.
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Objective To investigate the interface pressure on above knee residual limb at mid stance during walking，so as to provide basis for the establishment of measurement and evaluation system for the above-knee socket. Methods Based on CT images of the femur, soft tissue and above knee socket of the patient with residual limb, the three-dimensional model was first built, and then to assemble them according to changes of the hip joint in a gait cycle. The finite element model was then established to simulate the loading conditions at mid stance during a gait cycle, and the effect of pre-stress was investigated by nonlinear large deformation analysis. Results If considering the effects such as joint changes and pre-stress, the maximum value by calculation for normal interface pressure distributed on the terminal of stump was 257.66 kPa, which could better match the maximum stress actually measured by the Mflex Sensor Distributing System as 258.9 kPa. Conclusions The three-dimensional finite element model with considering the factors such as hip joint change, pre-stress and friction could effectively simulate the stress condition of patient with residual limb during walking.
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Objective To study the load distribution of muscles for those having long period stance training during traditional chinese Gongfu stance, and evaluate the effectiveness of such stance. Method Seven traditional Chinese Gongfu stance trainers and seven normal adults for the control were enrolled in the experiment. The sEMG (surface electromyography) signals of five muscles (brachioradialis, triceps brachii, deltoid, latissimus dorsi, triceps surae) were tested by Flexcomp Infiniti 10 channel sEMG collector. The value of IEMG (integral electromyography) were processed. Results With the increase of load, the ratio between deltoid IEMG and latissimus dorsi IEMG for the stance trained group stabilized in the range from (0.372±0.258) to (0.257±0.146), while that of the control was in the range from (1.313±0.698) to (0.800±0.405). Conclusions When the traditional Chinese Gongfu stance is processed with or without load, the trained group distributed major load on the dorsal muscle, while the control on the shoulder.
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Objective To compare the parameters of plantar pressures between the obese children and normal children during walking on the flat ground at normal speed, and to discuss the effect of obesity on dynamic plantar pressures for 7-11 years obese children. MethodThere were 40 volunteer subjects, twenty obese children and twenty normal children between 7 and 11 years of age in this study. Subjects were asked to walk at their own paces on a 10 m walkway with a 0.5 m footscan plate (footscan from RSscan International, Olen, Belgium) Sampling at 300 Hz. Data were processed statistically by SPSS11.5 and EXCEL. ResultsCompared to the normal children: 1.the obese children have the longer foot support duration and shorter push off duration; 2.the peak plantar pressures are larger and appearing time is longer of Metatarsal 4 (M4) and Metatarsal 5 (M5), the peak plantar pressures of Toe 2 (T2) to Toe 5 (T5) on obese children group are higher. 3. AI (arch index) and impulse percentage of mid foot and heel of obese children group are much larger. 4. Supination extent of the left foot in heel strike phase, supination extent of the right foot in foot support phase and in push off phase on obese children group are also larger. In addition, significant difference in pronation extent appeared between left and right foot in obese children group. 5. The footaxis angle of obese children group is obviously larger. ConclusionsCompared to the normal children: 1. the walking stability of obese children group in this study is weaker. 2. Obese children are vulnerable to injure their foot foresole, ankle joint and knee joint. 3. Obese children endure flat foot more easily. 4. Obese children walk more frequently with outward splayfoot.
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Objective To investigate the effects of gender and body mass index(BMI) on dynamic plantar pressure among children by comparing the plantar pressure parameters of obese boys and girls, as well as normal boys and girls when walking at preferred speed on flat ground and reviewing the relativity of children’s BMI and these parameters. Method 79 children were enrolled in this research to make gait test when walking naturally, using a 0.5m footscan plate system (RSscan International, Belgium). The results were statistically processed and analyzed by SPSS16.0. Results(1) There is no significant difference in mostly dynamic plantar pressure parameters between genders for both obese and normal children; (2) There is significant difference in the impulse percentage in mid foot and ground, and appearing time of pressure peak values of several areas including M5, MF and HL for normal children; (3) There is no significant correlation between BMI and foot support duration, impulse percentage between mid foot and ground, pressure peak value of T2 5, appearing time of pressure peak value of HM and HL; (4) BMI and the other plantar pressure distribution indicators are well correlated. Conclusions(1) There is no significant difference on dynamic plantar pressure distribution between genders for obese children, but there are effects of genders on partial dynamic plantar pressure distribution parameters for normal children; (2) Children with larger BMI are of worse walking stability and lower efficiency; (3) Children with larger BMI tend to feel fatigue in walking and get injured in ankle joints and other parts of the body more easily.