ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the influence of constrained arms swing on temporal and spatial gait parameters in healthy young adults.Method:Thirty-six healthy young persons (18 male,18 female;age:22.72±3.54 years;height:167.35±9.15 cm;weight:63.62±16.29 kg) were recruited for this study.All subjects received gait analysis by the Gait Watch analyses system.All subjects walked combined with 10 walking conditions (the arms swinging naturally,the arms constrained in front of the abdomen,the arms constrained in back of the abdomen,the left arm constrained in body side,the left arm constrained in front of the abdomen,the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen,the right arm constrained in body side,the right arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the right arm constrained in back of the abdomen).Walking conditions were randomly set during the experiment.The differences of the temporal and spatial gait parameters were analyzed and compared.Result:There was not significant difference of the temporal and spatial gait parameters (gait cycle,stride frequency,stride length,step velocity,step length,left step,right step,double support phase) between arm constrained and the arms swinging naturally.The left support phase and left swing phase showed significantly difference with the left arm constrained in body side,the left arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen compared with arms swinging naturally.The right support phase and right swing phase showed significantly difference with the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen,the right arm constrained in body side,the right arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the right arm constrained in back of the abdomen compared with arms swinging naturally.Conclusion:The left support phase was shorten and left swing phase was prolonged with the left arm constrained,while the right support phase was prolonged and right swing phase was shorten with the right arm constrained.