Prevalence of Gait Features in Healthy Adolescents and Adults / 대한법의학회지

Forensic gait analysis is the identification of individuals by their gait style and walking characteristics. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of gait patterns in healthy adolescents and adults. Five hundred healthy participants (mean age, 36.9 years) were enrolled and divided into four age groups: 13-20, 21-35, 36-50, and ≥51 years. The gait of the participants was recorded in a gait analysis laboratory. Five specialists experienced in gait analysis selected several gait features. The prevalence of out-toe, in-toe, planovalgus, and turtleneck was 25.0%, 1.6%, 6.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. The prevalence of genu varum (10.4%) was higher than that of genu valgum (5.6%). Genu valgum and hindfoot valgus were more common in younger than in older subjects (P=0.018 and P=0.029, respectively). Genu varum was more prevalent in older subjects (P<0.001). The prevalence of out-toe was higher in males (P<0.001), whereas the in-toe and genu valgum were more common in females than in males (P=0.027 and P=0.038, respectively). We have documented the prevalence of several gait features in healthy adolescents and adults. These gait features can be used to enhance evidentiary competence in forensic gait analysis and thereby help improve the arrest rate of offenders.

Normative Values of Physical Examinations Commonly Used for Cerebral Palsy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish normative values and to identify age-related change in physical examinations that are commonly used while evaluating patients with cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred four healthy volunteers (mean age 36 years, standard deviation 15 years) were enrolled and divided into four age groups: 13−20, 21−35, 36−50, and 51 years and older. The eighteen physical examination tests for CP were selected by five orthopedic surgeons in consensus-building session. The measurements were taken by three orthopedic surgeons. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the measures of physical examination among all the age groups, except for the Staheli test (p=0.002). The post hoc test revealed that the mean hip extension was 2.7° higher in the 13−20-year-old group than in the other age groups. The bilateral popliteal angle had a tendency to increase in those over 36-years-old. There were 31 participants (30%) with a unilateral popliteal angle greater than 40°. CONCLUSION: We documented normative values that can be widely used for evaluating CP in patients 13 years and older.

Survey for Musculoskeletal Pain of Korean Junior Tennis Players / 대한스포츠의학회지

The aim of this survey was to analyze the characteristics of musculoskeletal pain of Korean junior tennis players and its effect on games and psychology of players. Surveys were administered to 30 healthy male junior tennis players who took part in a 50th national junior tennis meet in 2015. We analyzed the incidence, location, cause and preferred prevention or treatment method of musculoskeletal pain, the correlation between training time and musculoskeletal pain as well as the effect of musculoskeletal pain on games and psychology of players. Overall, 22 out of 30 (73.3%) responded the experience of musculoskeletal pain. The incidence of lower extremity pain (16 out of 30, 53.3%) were higher than upper extremity pain (9 out of 30, 30%) and low back pain (8 out of 30, 26.7%). The long training hours per day (r=0.574, p=0.001) and old age (r=0.390, p=0.033) were correlated with intermittent back pain in univariate anlaysis. In multivariate ananlysis, the long training hours per day was a single risk factor of intermittent low back pain (p=0.038, odds ratio 10.01). 43.3% of players responded that the insufficent preventive conditioning program was thought to be the cause of musculoskeletal pain. The most preferred treatment or prevention method for musculoskeletal pain was rehabilitation (55.3%). Twelve players reported the negative affection of musculoskeletal pain to the performance in game. Six players experienced the frustration, 9 players experienced the loss of interest and 9 players experienced the emotional avoidance of games due to the musculoskeletal pain.