Simulated Stiff-knee Gait in Healthy Adults

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of simulated stiff knee on the gait parameters. METHOD: Twenty healthy male adults were recruited. The temporospatial, kinematic & kinetic parameters and energy consumption were analyzed under three different conditions which were free gait, fixed knee flexion in neutral position and limited knee flexion to 30 degrees using knee orthosis. RESULTS: When knee flexion was fixed in neutral position, the cadence and walking speed significantly decreased, and the step time, step width, O2 cost significantly increased compared to free gait. When knee flexion was limited or fixed in neutral position, the kinematic and kinetic parameters in pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joints significantly changed compared with free gait. CONCLUSION: Simulated stiff-knee may affect not only knee joint but also pelvis, hip and ankle joints with increased energy consumption. These findings help us to understand the compensatory mechanism and energy conservation of stiff-knee gait.

Gait Analysis of Unilateral Transfemoral Amputees with Prosthetics on an Inclined Surface

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of prosthetic gait of unilateral transfemoral amputees on an inclined surface compared with those of normal persons. METHOD: Five male unilateral transfemoral amputees and ten normal persons were recruited. Uphill and downhill walking of inclined surface on slopes of 10 and 20 degrees and level walking were investigated. Kinematic data were obtained with VICON 370 system (Oxford Metrics Ltd., UK). RESULTS: The kinematic data of the transfemoral amputees showed significantly decreased peak hip extension at all situation and peak hip flexion at 20 degrees uphill walking, significant increased knee extension at 20 degrees downhill and all uphill walking, and significant decreased knee flexion at all situation, and significant decreased ankle dorsiflexion at all situation and plantarflexion at all situation except 20 degrees downhill walking compared with those of normal persons. Also they showed significant decreased cadence, speed and increased step time, double support at all situation compared with normal persons. CONCLUSION: Analysis of prosthetic gait of unilateral transfemoral amputees on an inclined surface support the basic data for induction of normal gait pattern.

Characteristics of Stair Ascent in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of stair ascent in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: Twenty patients with knee osteoarthritis and twenty healthy controls were recruited. The kinematic and kinetic data were obtained through a three dimensional motion analyzer. The kinematic and kinetic data during stair ascent were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The total required time of stair ascent was significantly longer in the osteoarthritis group than that of the control group (p<0.05). In comparison with the control group, the angle of maximal pelvis anterior tilting, minimal and maximal hip flexion and minimal knee flexion were significantly increased (p<0.05). However, the angle of knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact were significantly decreased in the osteoarthritis group (p<0.05). The maximal moment and power of knee extension and ankle plantarflexion were significantly decreased in the osteoarthritis group (p<0.05). Sixteen patients (80.0%) in the osteoarthritis group showed flexion arc after initial contact. "W" sign was shown in 16 patients (80.0%). CONCLUSION: We found the unique kinematic and kinetic patterns during stair ascent in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and that knee osteoarthritis influence not only kinematic and kinetic patterns of knee but also those of hip and ankle.

Kinematic Gait Analysis in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy after Selective Posterior Rhizotomy: Long Term Follow Up

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of kinematic gait patterns at long-term follow up study after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. METHOD: Eighteen children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Gait patterns on sagittal plane were studied before and at average 3.5 years after SPR. Kinematic and temporospatial data were obtained by the VICON 370 system. RESULTS: The spasticity of hip adductor and ankle plantar flexor were improved significantly after SPR. The maximal angle of pelvic tilt, ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact, peak ankle dorsiflexion angle during stance phase, at toe-off and during swing phase, mid-range point of flexion-extension motion on ankle were significantly improved after SPR. The temporospatial data tended to improve after SPR at long-term follow up. CONCLUSION: The SPR reduced spasticity and the gait pat terns were improved in children with spastic diplegic cere bral palsy at long-term follow up.