ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the patterns of gait and locomotion in three dimension space using OptiTrack motion capture system in 30 healthy people aged 20-70 years. Methods The 3D OptiTrack motion capture system was applied in young(aged 20-30 years,n=10),middle-aged(aged 40-50 years,n=10)and the elderly (aged 60-70 years,n=10)to capture the gait and the rhythmic oscillations of the trunk,head,hip and kneewhen subjects walked on the treadmill under three different conditions of normal walking,walking under visual interfering and walking under proprioceptive interfering.Several markers were placed on the subject.For each locomotor trial, the preferred walking speed,stride width,stride time,the absolute angular dispersions and the stander deviation of four segments around the roll,pitch and yaw axes,and gait instability(λ)were calculated to assess the equilibrium strategies of head,trunk,pelvis and knee under different experimental conditions. Results With increasing age, there were decreases in preferring walking speed(PWS)and increases in stride width(F=3.23,3.87;P=0.030, 0.020,respectively).The absolute angle of the segment of head in roll axis was significantly smaller in young group than in middle age and elderly group(F=4.01,3.72;P=0.035,0.028,respectively)under the condition of normal walking and proprioceptive interfering.The trunk sway in yaw was significantly decreased while significantly increased in roll plane either in normal walking or walking under proprioception interfering(F=3.19,P=0.015) .The standard deviation(SD)of movement of head,trunk and hip in yaw direction was higher in young group than in middle-age and elderly group(F=2.89,3.14,3.92;P=0.036,0.019,0.034,respectively),but was lower in young group in roll direction than in middle-age and elderly group(F= 3.90,2.56,3.28;P= 0.017,0.021,0.056, respectively),the difference existed only in hip and trunk under proprioception interfering.The SD value of movement of bilateral knee joints was increased in elderly subjects.Using mediolateral-λ(ML-λ)to predict the gait stability,the results showed a significantly increased λ value by our small circle,and the λ value was positively correlated with age(r=0.03,P<0.05). Conclusions With aging,the abnormal adjustment of body posture and the incongruity of gait may cause a high risk for falling,and gait instability begins to increase as early as age 40-50 years.This finding supports that local dynamic stability is likely to be an indicator of falling risk.OptiTrack motion capture system can be used to evaluate a balance for rehabilitation.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the status of the vestibular function of the patients with chronic positional symptoms after peripheral acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) and the curative effect of the vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). Method:Using caloric test (CT), head shaking nystagmus test (HST), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials as well as ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials to estimate the function of semicircular canal and otolith organs. The patients with normal VEMPs are divided as Group A. Otherwise are as Group B. Both groups are treated with VRT. The curative effect is estimated by vestibular symptom index (VSI) and Berg balance scale (BBS). Result:Thirty-three of 37 patients (86.5%) had an abnormal result of CT and HST, with 23 of these patients (65.7%) had an abnormal of both test. Twenty-two patients (59.5%) were in Group A and 15 (40.5%) in Group B. Before the therapy, Group B had a higher score of the balance and dizziness symptoms of VSI (P<0.05), and Group A had a higher score of the BBS (P<0.05). After the therapy, the VSI scores of both groups dropped and scores of the BBS raised. Conclusion:Patients with chronic positional symptoms after peripheral AVS have dynamic vestibular lesions to different extents. Those with otolith organs lesions tend to have a worse function of balance. Nevertheless, patients have a better off after VRT.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the risk factor,type and characteristic nystagmus of the otolith abnormal migration during diagnosis and treatment for posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PSC-BPPV). The therapy and prevention is also discussed.@*METHOD@#Four hundred and seventy-nine patients with PSC-BPPV were treated by Epley's canalith repositioning procedures(CRP) from March 2009 to March 2012. We observed otolith abnormal migration complicating during diagnosis and treatment. According the type of otolith abnormal migration, the additional repositioning maneuver was performed.@*RESULT@#The rate of complication was 8. 1%(39/479), with canal conversion in 5.4%(26/479) and primarily canal reentry in 2.7%(13/479). The rate of incidence of conversion to horizontal canal conversion and anterior canal were 4. 8%(23/479)and 0. 6%(3/479) respectively. All the patient was cured in follow up. The risk factors were unappropriated head movement during or after CRP, including another Dix-Hallpike were performed immediately.@*CONCLUSION@#To prevent the complications,the pathognostic positioning sequence and angle of head rotation are commenced during CRP. Appropriate short time postural restrictions post-treatment is necessary. Careful observation of nystagrnus variation is crucial to determine the otolith abnormal migration.