scholarly journals The effects of arm swing amplitude and lower-limb asymmetry on gait stability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Hill ◽  
Julie Nantel
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Speed Ratio ◽  
Arm Swing ◽  
Gait Symmetry ◽  
Gait Stability ◽  
Trunk Stability ◽  
Limb Coordination ◽  
Gait Asymmetry ◽  
Limb Asymmetry

AbstractChanges to arm swing and gait symmetry are symptomatic of several pathological gaits associated with reduced stability. The purpose of this study was to examine the relative contributions of arm swing and gait symmetry towards gait stability. We theorized that actively increasing arm swing would increase gait stability, while asymmetric walking would decrease gait stability. Fifteen healthy, young adults (23.4 ± 2.8 yrs) walked on a split-belt treadmill under symmetric (1.2 m/s) and asymmetric walking (left/right, 5:4 speed ratio) with three different arm swings: held, normal, and active. Trunk local dynamic stability, inter-limb coordination, and spatiotemporal gait variability and symmetry were measured. Active arm swing resulted in improved local trunk stability, increased gait variability, and decreased inter-limb coordination (p < .013). The changes in local trunk stability and gait variability during active arm swing suggests that these metrics quantify fundamentally different aspects of stability and are not always comparable. Split-belt walking caused reduced local trunk stability, increased gait variability, and increased lower limb asymmetry (p < .003). However, the arm swing symmetry was unaffected by gait asymmetry, this suggests that deficits in gait stability in pathological gaits may be linked to increases in gait asymmetry rather than increases in arm swing asymmetry.

scholarly journals The effects of arm swing amplitude and lower-limb asymmetry on gait stability

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0218644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Hill ◽  
Julie Nantel
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Arm Swing ◽  
Gait Stability ◽  
Limb Asymmetry

scholarly journals Effects of arm swing amplitude and lower limb asymmetry on motor variability patterns during treadmill gait

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A Bailey ◽  
Allen Hill ◽  
Ryan B Graham ◽  
Julie Nantel
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Maximum Lyapunov Exponent ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Joint Angles ◽  
Motor Variability ◽  
Arm Swing ◽  
Limb Asymmetry

Motor variability is a fundamental feature of gait. Altered arm swing and lower limb asymmetry (LLA) may be contributing factors having been shown to affect the magnitude and dynamics of variability in spatiotemporal and trunk motion. However, the effects on lower limb joints remain unclear. Full-body kinematics of 15 healthy young adults were recorded during treadmill walking using the Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment system. Participants completed six trials, combining three arm swing (AS) amplitude (normal, active, held) and two LLA (symmetrical, asymmetrical) conditions. The mean standard deviation (meanSD), maximum Lyapunov exponent (λmax), detrended fluctuation analysis scaling exponent of range of motion (DFAα), and sample entropy (SaEn) were computed for tridimensional trunk, pelvis, and lower limb joint angles, and compared using repeated-measures ANOVAs. Relative to normal AS, active AS increased meanSD of all joint angles, λmax of frontal plane hip and ankle angles, and SaEn of sagittal plane ankle angles. Active AS, however, did not affect λmax or SaEn of trunk or pelvis angles. LLA increased meanSD of sagittal plane joint angles, λmax of Euclidean norm trunk angle and of lower limb joint angles, and SaEn of ankle dorsiflexion/ plantarflexion, but decreased SaEn of tridimensional trunk angles and hip rotation in the slower moving leg. Alterations in lower limb variability with active AS and LLA suggest that young adults actively exploit their lower limb redundancies to maintain gait. This appears to preserve trunk stability and regularity during active AS but not during LLA.

scholarly journals Plantar load transfer in children: a descriptive study with two pathological case studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Brierty ◽  
Christopher P. Carty ◽  
Claudia Giacomozzi ◽  
Teresa Phillips ◽  
Henry P. J. Walsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Load Transfer ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Transfer Phase ◽  
Gait Symmetry ◽  
Plantar Pressures ◽  
Gait Asymmetry ◽  
Mean Pressure ◽  
Pathological Case

Abstract Background Typical gait is often considered to be highly symmetrical, with gait asymmetries typically associated with pathological gait. Whilst gait symmetry is often expressed in symmetry ratios, measures of symmetry do not provide insight into how these asymmetries affect gait variables. To fully understand changes caused by gait asymmetry, we must first develop a normative database for comparison. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe normative reference values of regional plantar load and present comparisons with two pathological case studies. Methods A descriptive study of the load transfer of plantar pressures in typically developed children was conducted to develop a baseline for comparison of the effects of gait asymmetry in paediatric clinical populations. Plantar load and 3D kinematic data was collected for 17 typically developed participants with a mean age of 9.4 ± 4.0 years. Two case studies were also included; a 10-year-old male with clubfoot and an 8-year-old female with a flatfoot deformity. Data was analysed using a kinematics-pressure integration technique for anatomical masking into 5 regions of interest; medial and lateral forefoot, midfoot, and medial and lateral hindfoot. Results Clear differences between the two case studies and the typical dataset were seen for the load transfer phase of gait. For case study one, lateral bias was seen in the forefoot of the trailing foot across all variables, as well as increases in contact area, force and mean pressure in the lateral hindfoot of the leading foot. For case study two, the forefoot of the trailing foot produced results very similar to the typical dataset across all variables. In the hindfoot of the leading foot, medial bias presents most notably in the force and mean pressure graphs. Conclusions This study highlights the clinical significance of the load transfer phase of gait, providing meaningful information for intervention planning.

Trunk, Pelvis and Lower Limb Coordination between Anticipated and Unanticipated Sidestep Cutting in Females

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Dutaillis ◽  
David A Opar ◽  
Todd Pataky ◽  
Ryan G Timmins ◽  
Jack T Hickey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Limb Coordination

scholarly journals Relationship between Asymmetry of Gait and Muscle Torque in Patients after Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Rutkowska-Kucharska ◽  
Mateusz Kowal ◽  
Sławomir Winiarski
Keyword(s):  
Hip Joint ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Gait Symmetry ◽  
Symmetry Index ◽  
Muscle Torque ◽  
Effective Form ◽  
Gait Asymmetry ◽  
Torque Values ◽  
Therapy Programme

Many studies have shown that unilateral transfemoral amputation involves asymmetric gait. Transfemoral amputation leads to muscle atrophy in a tight stump resulting in asymmetry in muscle torque between the amputated and intact limb. This research is aimed at verifying if a relationship between torque values of hip joint flexors and extensors and gait asymmetry in patients with TFA exists. Fourteen adult subjects with unilateral TFA took part in the experiment. Gait symmetry was evaluated based on the ground reaction force (GRF). Measurements of muscle torque of hip flexors and extensors were taken with a Biodex System. All measurements were taken under isokinetic (60°/s and 120°/s) and isometric conditions. The symmetry index of vertical GRF components was from 7.5 to 11.5%, and anterio-posterior GRF from 6.2 to 9.3%. The symmetry index for muscle torque was from 24.3 to 44% for flexors, from 39 to 50.5% for extensors, and from 28.6 to 50% in the flexor/extensor ratio. Gait asymmetry correlated with muscle torque in hip joint extensors. Therapy which enhances muscle torque may be an effective form of patient therapy. The patient needs to undergo evaluation of their muscle strength and have the therapy programme adjusted to their level of muscle torque deficit.

scholarly journals Time-Discrete Vibrotactile Feedback Contributes to Improved Gait Symmetry in Patients With Lower Limb Amputations: Case Series

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Crea ◽  
Benoni B. Edin ◽  
Kristel Knaepen ◽  
Romain Meeusen ◽  
Nicola Vitiello
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Vibrotactile Feedback ◽  
Gait Symmetry
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