scholarly journals Pushing a Sled: Assessing its Impact on Gait Temporospatial Parameters in Young Healthy Adults [Texas Woman's University]

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneesah Hyder ◽  
Chad Swank ◽  
Martin G Rosario
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
Proportional Increase ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Resistance exercise (RE) has been demonstrated as a superior modality for increasing muscle strength, muscle endurance, power, and motor performance. The sled used in this study is a novel device that provides proportional increase in resistance with increased speed. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of resistance on gait temporospatial parameters using a resistance sled in healthy young adults while walking and running. METHODS: Fifteen young adults (ages 21-35) were recruited to participate in this study. Sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) were placed on each subject at the chest, waist, both wrists, and ankles. Each participant performed three trials of 40 feet for the following conditions: self-paced walking (W), self-paced walking while pushing the sled (WP), and maximal speed running while pushing the sled (RP). RESULTS: A repeated measures MANOVA was conducted to compare gait temporospatial parameters across conditions. Results indicate significant differences (P <0.005) between all conditions for stride length, cadence, double support time, swing %, and stance %. Stride length decreased across all conditions: W (85+/-3.0), WP (68+/-4.1), and RP (56+/-7.0). Cadence decreased while WP (92+/-10.1), yet increased during RP (169+/-14.9), compared to W (109+/-6.7). During WP and RP, participants demonstrated greater gait cycle percentage in stance phase [(WP, stance phase: 66+/-1.6, swing phase: 34+/-1.6) and (RP, stance phase: 57+/-2.7, swing phase: 42+/-2.7)] when compared to W (stance phase: 37+/-2.1, swing phase: 37+/-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Longer stance phase with proportional increase in resistance could be utilized as a combined resistance and gait training tool as opposed to only gait training. Future studies should focus on neuromuscular activation of the lower extremity, specifically the muscles involved in the gait cycle stance phase, when walking or running with resistance.

scholarly journals Immediate effects of a novel walking assist device with auxiliary illuminator on patients after acute strokes

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Wan-Yun Huang ◽  
Sheng-Hui Tuan ◽  
Min-Hui Li ◽  
Xin-Yu Liu ◽  
Pei-Te Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Gait Speed ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Heel Strike ◽  
Assist Device ◽  
Double Support ◽  
Strike Angle ◽  
Support Phase

Background: Many patients after acute stage of stroke are present with abnormal gait pattern due to weakness or hypertonicity of the affected limbs. Facilitation of normal gait is a primary goal of rehabilitation on these patients.Objective: We aimed to investigate whether walking assist device with auxiliary illuminator (quad-cane with laser) providing visual feedback during ambulation could improve parameters of gait cycle immediately among patients with subacute and chronic stroke.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and 30 participants (male 23, female 7, group 1) with mean age [Formula: see text] years were recruited. Among them, 22 used ankle-foot orthosis [(AFO), group 2] and 8 did not use AFO (group 3) at usual walking. All the participants walked along a strait corridor with even surface for 20[Formula: see text]m without and with using a quad-cane with laser, respectively. A gait analyzer (Reha-Watch1 system) was used to measure the changes of the parameters of gait cycle, including stride length, cadence, gait speed, stance phase, swing phase, duration of single support and double support, the angle between toes and the ground at the time of toe-off (the toe-off angle) and the angle between calcaneus and the ground at the time of heel-strike (the heel-strike angle), before and with the use of a quad-cane with laser.Results: The increase in the heel-strike angle reached a significant difference in groups 1 2, and 3 ([Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively). However, the stride length, the gait speed, the cadence, percentage of the stance phase, swing phase, single-support phase, and double-support phase in a gait cycle, and the toe-off angle showed no significant change with the use of quad-cane with laser.Conclusion: Patients after acute stroke had an immediate and significant increase in the heel-stroke angle by using a quad-cane with laser during ambulation, which might help the patients to reduce knee hyperextension moment and lessen the pressure of heel at loading phase.

scholarly journals Velocity Determinants in Spastic Patients after Stroke—A Gait Analysis Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
Miguel Reis e Silva ◽  
Jorge Jacinto
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Exclusion Criteria

Introduction: Gait velocity in spastic patients after stroke is both a life quality and mortality predictor. However, the precise biomechanical events that impair a faster velocity in this population are not defined. This study goal is to find out which are the gait parameters associated with a higher velocity in stroke patients with spastic paresis. Methods: The registries of a Gait analysis laboratory were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were: trials of adult stroke patients with unilateral deficits. The exclusion criteria were: trials when patients used an external walking device, an orthosis, or support by a third person. Of the 116 initial patients, after the application of the exclusion criteria, 34 patients were included in the cohort, all with spatiotemporal, static and dynamic kinematic and dynamometric studies. Results: There was a correlation of velocity with cadence, stride length of the paretic (P) limb, stride length, and time of the P and non-paretic (NP) limb, double support time, all the parameters related to hip extension during stance phase, knee flexion during swing phase, and parameters related to ankle plantarflexion during stance phase. Conclusions: The main gait analysis outcomes that have a correlation with speed are related to the formula velocity = step length × cadence or are related to stance phase events that allow the anterior projection of the body. The only swing phase outcome that has a correlation with speed is knee flexion. More studies are needed from gait analysis laboratories in order to point out the most relevant goals to achieve with gait training in spastic stroke patients.

scholarly journals Newly designed computer controlled knee-ankle-foot orthosis (Intelligent Orthosis)

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Suga ◽  
O. Kameyama ◽  
R. Ogawa ◽  
M. Matsuura ◽  
H. Oka
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽  
Normal Gait ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Foot Orthosis

The authors have developed a knee-ankle-foot orthosis with a joint unit that controls knee movements using a microcomputer (Intelligent Orthosis). The Intelligent Orthosis was applied to normal subjects and patients, and gait analysis was performed. In the gait cycle, the ratio of the stance phase to the swing phase was less in gait with the knee locked using a knee-ankle-foot orthosis than in gait without an orthosis or gait with the knee controlled by a microcomputer. The ratio of the stance phase to the swing phase between controlled gait and normal gait was similar. For normal subjects the activity of the tibialis anterior was markedly increased from the heel-off phase to the swing phase in locked gait. The muscle activities of the lower limb were lower in controlled force in locked gait showed spikes immediately after heel-contact in the vertical at heel-contact in the sagittal to locked gait, gait with the Intelligent Orthosis is smooth and close to normal gait from the viewpoint of biomechanics. Even in patients with muscle weakness of the quadriceps, control of the knee joint using the Intelligent Orthosis resulted in a more smooth gait with low muscle discharge.

scholarly journals Effect of Kinesio Taping on the Walking Ability of Patients with Foot Drop after Stroke

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yilan Sheng ◽  
Shifeng Kan ◽  
Zixing Wen ◽  
Wenhua Chen ◽  
Qi Qi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stride Length ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Foot Drop ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Kinesio Taping ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
Experimental Group

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesio taping on the walking ability in patients with foot drop after stroke. Methods. Sixty patients were randomly divided into the experimental group (with kinesio taping) and the control group (without kinesio taping). The 10-Meter Walking Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), stride length, stance phase, swing phase, and foot rotation of the involved side were measured with the German ZEBRIS gait running platform analysis system and were used to evaluate and compare the immediate effects of kinesio taping. All the measurements were made in duplicate for each patient. Results. The demographic variables of patients in both groups were comparable before the treatment (p>0.05). After kinesio taping treatment, significant improvement was found in the 10MWT and the TUGT for patients in the experimental group (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the 10MWT and TUGT between the experimental and control groups after treatment (p<0.05). In terms of gait, we found significant improvement in stride length (p<0.001), stance phase (p<0.001), swing phase (p<0.001), and foot rotation (p<0.001) of the involved side in experimental group after treatment compared with those before treatment. Further, the functional outcomes and gait ability were significantly improved in the experimental group after treatment (p<0.05), compared to the control group. Conclusion. Kinesio taping can immediately improve the walking function of patients with foot drop after stroke.

Biomechanical responses of young adults with unilateral transfemoral amputation using two types of mechanical stance control prosthetic knee joints

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 314-322
Author(s):  
Jan Andrysek ◽  
Daniela García ◽  
Claudio Rozbaczylo ◽  
Carlos Alvarez-Mitchell ◽  
Rebeca Valdebenito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Pelvic Tilt ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Knee Joints ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Phase Duration ◽  
Prosthetic Knee ◽  
Stance Control

Background: Prosthetic knee joint function is important in the rehabilitation of individuals with transfemoral amputation. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the gait patterns associated with two types of mechanical stance control prosthetic knee joints—weight-activated braking knee and automatic stance-phase lock knee. It was hypothesized that biomechanical differences exist between the two knee types, including a prolonged swing-phase duration and exaggerated pelvic movements for the weight-activated braking knee during gait. Study design: Prospective crossover study. Methods: Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic parameters were obtained via instrumented gait analysis for 10 young adults with a unilateral transfemoral amputation. Discrete gait parameters were extracted based on their magnitudes and timing. Results: A 1.01% ± 1.14% longer swing-phase was found for the weight-activated braking knee (p < 0.05). The prosthetic ankle push-off also occurred earlier in the gait cycle for the weight-activated braking knee. Anterior pelvic tilt was 3.3 ± 3.0 degrees greater for the weight-activated braking knee. This range of motion was also higher (p < 0.05) and associated with greater hip flexion angles. Conclusions: Stance control affects biomechanics primarily in the early and late stance associated with prosthetic limb loading and unloading. The prolonged swing-phase time for the weight-activated braking knee may be associated with the need for knee unloading to initiate knee flexion during gait. The differences in pelvic tilt may be related to knee stability and possibly the different knee joint stance control mechanisms. Clinical relevance Understanding the influence of knee function on gait biomechanics is important in selecting and improving treatments and outcomes for individuals with lower-limb amputations. Weight-activated knee joints may result in undesired gait deviations associated with stability in early stance-phase, and swing-phase initiation in the late stance-phase of gait.

Design of a Novel Variable Stiffness Active Ankle Foot Orthosis Using Permanent Magnets for Drop Foot Assistance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinaba Basu ◽  
Sri Sadhan Jujjavarapu ◽  
Ehsan T. Esfahani
Keyword(s):  
Stance Phase ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Permanent Magnets ◽  
Variable Stiffness ◽  
Drop Foot ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽  
Impact Forces ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Foot Orthosis

Abstract In this paper, we present the design of a novel variable stiffness ankle-foot orthosis for correcting the drop-foot condition. The proposed mechanism controls the position of permanent magnets to provide torque and stiffness assistance to the patients suffering from drop foot. A publicly available gait dataset of 20 healthy individuals is used to extract the stiffness and torque requirements of a gait cycle and the information is used to evaluate the foot orthosis. It is shown that the proposed foot orthosis can provide appropriate torque and stiffness assistance to the ankle joint during the swing and the stance phase respectively. Moreover, the spring-like nature of the repelling magnets reduces the impact forces on the patient’s joints.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF SPEED AND INCLINE ON LOWER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS DURING TREADMILL JOGGING IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (02) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAN-YUEN GUO ◽  
FONG-CHIN SU ◽  
CHICH-HAUNG YANG ◽  
SHU-HUI WANG ◽  
JYH-JONG CHANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Motion Analysis ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Vision System ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Transverse Plane ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Maximum Flexion

Recently, there are more people jogging with a treadmill at the gym or the home setting. The main available selected modes for treadmill jogging are speed and slope of incline. Increased speeds and incline slopes will not only increase the cardiopulmonary loading but may also alter the lower extremity (LE) movement patterns. There are few systematic investigations of the effect of the speed and incline on LE kinematics. Most studies have used 2D methods which focused on movements in sagittal plane only and this has limitations in the acquired data since lower extremity movements also include frontal and transverse planes. The current study aimed to investigate LE movement during jogging at different speeds and incline slopes using a high speed three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system. Eighteen young healthy males were recruited. The video-based motion capture system with six CCD cameras, HIRES Expert Vision System (Motion Analysis Corporation, CA, USA), was used to collect kinematic data at a sampling frequency of 120Hz. Nineteen passive reflective markers were attached to bilateral lower extremities of the subject. The joint angle is calculated by Euler angle using the rotation sequence: 2-1-3 (y-x′-z″). Four speeds were selected: 2 m/s, 2.5 m/s, 3 m/s, 3.5 m/s with the slope at 0, and four slopes were selected: 0%, 5%,10%,15% at a speed of 3 m/s. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to test hypotheses regarding changes in jogging condition on LE kinematic variables. The significance level was set at 0.05. As the jogging slope increased, the hip, knee and ankle demonstrated a significantly greater maximum flexion in swing phase (p<0.001), but the maximum extension angles in stance phase were relatively unchanged. Increased LE flexion during swing phase is important to ensure foot clearance with increased slope. For increased speed, the hip and ankle joints had significantly greater maximum joint extension angles during stance phase and the hip and knee joint had significantly larger maximum flexion angles in swing phase (p<0.001). Increased motion during swing phase account for a larger step length and increased motion during stance phase may facilitate the generation of power during forward propulsion as the jogging speed increased. As the slope and speed increased, LE movement patterns were changed in the transverse plane: the significantly increased (p<0.01) internal hip rotation at terminal stance, the increased toe-in of foot (p<0.001) during terminal stance phase and decreased (p<0.05) toe-out during swing phase. Increased hip motion in transverse plane could lengthen the stride distance and increase foot toe-in for providing a stable lever for push off to increase propulsion force as speed or slope is increased. By way of systematic 3D kinematic investigation of the LE in jogging, the results further elucidate the effect of changing speed and incline on LE joints movements. This information could provide guidelines for rehabilitation clinicians or coaches to select an appropriate training mode for jogging.

scholarly journals The effect of daily walking exercise on sleep quality in healthy young adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feifei Wang ◽  
Szilvia Boros
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Walking Intervention ◽  
Walking Exercise ◽  
Group B ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose Walking has beneficial effects on sleep quality in elderly population and patients in clinical settings. However, less is known whether walking improves sleep quality among healthy young adults. This study examined the effectiveness of a 12-week walking intervention on sleep quality among sedentary young adults. Methods Fifty-four healthy adults aged 19 to 36-years old participated a pedometer based aerobic walking intervention, a cross-over randomized control trial. Participants were assigned into two groups (group A and group B) randomly. The 12-week intervention was divided into three sessions equally. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after session 1 and session 3. Omron HJ-112 pedometer and daily walking diary facilitated the intervention process. Within group and between group comparisons were made for statistical analysis. Results Within group comparison by repeated measures showed that sleep duration (p < 0.01, F-test 22.79), sleep medication (p < 0.05, F-test 5.22), subjective sleep (p < 0.05, F-test 5.51) and global sleep quality (p < 0.01, F-test 12.19) were significantly improved. The comparison between intervention group and control group showed that sleep disturbance was significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion Daily walking exercise has a significant effect on facilitating sleep quality and sleep components among young adults. Further studies are suggested to examine the impact of walking intensity on sleep quality.

scholarly journals A View of Waste Might Decrease Relaxation: The Effects of Viewing an Open Dump in a Forest Environment on the Psychological Response of Healthy Young Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bielinis Ernest ◽  
Janeczko Emilia ◽  
Takayama Norimasa ◽  
Słupska Alicja ◽  
Korcz Natalia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Forest Environment ◽  
Forest Recreation ◽  
Psychological Indicators ◽  
Outdoor Experience ◽  
The Impact

AbstractForest recreation can be successfully used for the psychological relaxation of respondents and can be used as a remedy for common problems with stress. The special form of forest recreation intended for restoration is forest bathing. These activities might be distracted by some factors, such as viewing buildings in the forest or using a computer in nature, which interrupt psychological relaxation. One factor that might interrupt psychological relaxation is the occurrence of an open dump in the forest during an outdoor experience. To test the hypothesis that an open dump might decrease psychological relaxation, a case study was planned that used a randomized, controlled crossover design. For this purpose, two groups of healthy young adults viewed a control forest or a forest with an open dump in reverse order and filled in psychological questionnaires after each stimulus. A pretest was used. Participants wore oblique eye patches to stop their visual stimulation before the experimental stimulation, and the physical environment was monitored. The results were analyzed using the two-way repeated measures ANOVA. The measured negative psychological indicators significantly increased after viewing the forest with waste, and the five indicators of the Profile of Mood States increased: Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Anger-Hostility, Fatigue, and Confusion. In addition, the negative aspect of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule increased in comparison to the control and pretest. The measured positive indicators significantly decreased after viewing the forest with waste, the positive aspect of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule decreased, and the Restorative Outcome Scale and Subjective Vitality scores decreased (in comparison to the control and pretest). The occurrence of an open dump in the forest might interrupt a normal restorative experience in the forest by reducing psychological relaxation. Nevertheless, the mechanism of these relevancies is not known, and thus, it will be further investigated. In addition, in a future study, the size of the impact of these open dumps on normal everyday experiences should be investigated. It is proposed that different mechanisms might be responsible for these reactions; however, the aim of this manuscript is to only measure this reaction. The identified psychological reasons for these mechanisms can be assessed in further studies.

scholarly journals Walking With a Robotic Exoskeleton Does Not Mimic Natural Gait: A Within-Subjects Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Swank ◽  
Sharon Wang-Price ◽  
Fan Gao ◽  
Sattam Almutairi
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Robotic Exoskeleton ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Muscle Groups ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Robotic exoskeleton devices enable individuals with lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with full weight-bearing and reciprocal gait. Limited information is available on how a robotic exoskeleton affects gait characteristics. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing a robotic exoskeleton affects temporospatial parameters, kinematics, and muscle activity during gait. METHODS The study was completed by 15 healthy adults (mean age 26.2 [SD 8.3] years; 6 males, 9 females). Each participant performed walking under 2 conditions: with and without wearing a robotic exoskeleton (EKSO). A 10-camera motion analysis system synchronized with 6 force plates and a surface electromyography (EMG) system captured temporospatial and kinematic gait parameters and lower extremity muscle activity. For each condition, data for 5 walking trials were collected and included for analysis. RESULTS Differences were observed between the 2 conditions in temporospatial gait parameters of speed, stride length, and double-limb support time. When wearing EKSO, hip and ankle range of motion (ROM) were reduced and knee ROM increased during the stance phase. However, during the swing phase, knee and ankle ROM were reduced when wearing the exoskeleton bionic suit. When wearing EKSO, EMG activity decreased bilaterally in the stance phase for all muscle groups of the lower extremities and in the swing phase for the distal muscle groups (tibialis anterior and soleus) as well as the left medial hamstrings. CONCLUSIONS Wearing EKSO altered temporospatial gait parameters, lower extremity kinematics, and muscle activity during gait in healthy adults. EKSO appears to promote a type of gait that is disparate from normal gait in first-time users. More research is needed to determine the impact on gait training with EKSO in people with gait impairments.

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