Gait Characteristics of Female Patients before and after Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate gait characteristics of both lower limbs in female patients before and after unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Based on three-dimensional (3D) motion capture system and independent-sample t test, gait parameters of 10 female patients were compared in both lower limbs and compared with those of 10 healthy subjects before and after TKA. Results The preoperative stance phase, peak adduction angle, adduction-abduction range of motion (ROM) and peak flexion moment of the unoperated knee were significantly higher than those of the operated knee (P<0.05), while postoperative gait parameters were similar in both sides. Compared with the control group, the patients had significantly lower speed and stride length, longer double support time before TKA (P<0.05). Moreover, the operated knee demonstrated significantly lower peak extension and adduction angles, adduction-abduction ROM, peak flexion and abduction moments, higher peak adduction moment, and the unoperated knee revealed significantly lower peak extension angle, higher peak flexion and adduction moments than the control group before TKA (P<0.05). The greater differences of peak knee extension angles and adduction moments of both sides still existed in the two groups after TKA (P<0.05). Conclusions Unilateral TKA could ease pain and reduce gait deviations in both lower limbs of patients. However, there were still gait differences compared with the control group. Patients still suffered deficits in joint function, such as muscle strength and proprioception, and revealed pathological gait and posture. It’s advised that patients should enhance muscle strength of the operated limb, and take gait correction exercises. Female patients should also control walking speed to avoid increasing pressure on the knee after TKA.

A Study on the Effect of Degree of Freedom of Ankle Motion on Gait of Transfemoral Amputees with SNS Control Prosthesis / 대한정형외과연구학회지

Using three different types of the ankle joint, i.e., the fixed, single-axis, and multi axis type, the gait characteristics of transfemoral amputees were investigated to understand the biomechanics of ankle joint motion during gait of transfemoral amputees with a SNS (swing and stance phase) control prosthesis controlling the flexion-extension of knee in the stance phase unlike conventional swing control prostheses. The socket pressure was measured to explain the resulting gait characteristic of the transfemoral amputees for different ankle joint components. Based on the results from the gait characteristics, socket pressure, knee flexion-extension behavior, and ground reaction vector, the fixed type ankle joint could be considered as the most appropriate ankle joint for the transfemoral amputees using the SNS control prosthesis.

A Study on the Effect of Degree of Freedom of Ankle Motion on Gait of Transfemoral Amputees with SNS Control Prosthesis / 대한정형외과연구학회지

Using three different types of the ankle joint, i.e., the fixed, single-axis, and multi axis type, the gait characteristics of transfemoral amputees were investigated to understand the biomechanics of ankle joint motion during gait of transfemoral amputees with a SNS (swing and stance phase) control prosthesis controlling the flexion-extension of knee in the stance phase unlike conventional swing control prostheses. The socket pressure was measured to explain the resulting gait characteristic of the transfemoral amputees for different ankle joint components. Based on the results from the gait characteristics, socket pressure, knee flexion-extension behavior, and ground reaction vector, the fixed type ankle joint could be considered as the most appropriate ankle joint for the transfemoral amputees using the SNS control prosthesis.

Gait characteristics of young Thai adults.

The purpose of this study was to determine the temporal-distance (TD) gait variables of young Thai adults by using footprint analysis. Comparisons of these values between right and left sides, and between genders were reported. Footprints were obtained from 349 physiotherapy students (75 males, 274 females) while they walked naturally on a long sheet of paper. The following gait parameters were measure : step length, stride length, step width, step angle and cadence. The mean step lengths for the right and left sides were 62.51 and 62.26 cm. for the male group and 59.09 and 58.9 cm. for the female. The mean stride lengths for the right and left sides were 124.45 and 125.88 cm. for the male group and 118.01 and 118.04 cm. for the female. The following mean values were obtained in the right and left sides for step width, 6.17 and 6.33 cm in male, 5.99 and 6.13 cm. in females; for step angles, 8.4 and 7.77 degrees in male, and 6.28 and 4.95 degrees in female. The mean cadences of 110.02 and 108.83 steps per minute were obtained for the male and female groups respectively. No significant differences ere found for all mean values between right and left sides in both groups except that the female’s mean left step angle was significantly less than the right side. Sex differences were found for all TD-values except step width and cadence. These descriptive gait parameters can be used as the reference data base for comparison with abnormal gait parameters in patients.