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Mahmood I, Maqbool HF, Raza A, Iqbal N, Dehghani-Sanij AA. Gait dynamic stability evaluation in patients undergoing hip joint fractures - tools to measure rehabilitation effectiveness. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2024; 10:045050. [PMID: 38861944 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ad567b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
A hip joint fracture includes a break in the thigh (femur) or coxa bone near the pelvis. During fracture healing, stability and weight bearing by the affected limb are key indicators to measure patients' improvement. Conventionally, the rehabilitation effectiveness is monitored through clinical examinations, patients' feedback, and few studies also reported instrumented gait evaluations. A gap remains there to numerically quantify the recovery in patients' stability and weight bearing in response to rehabilitation therapies. This study introduces Nyquist and Bode (N&B) methods to analyse the instrumented gait signals further and evaluate gait stability in hip fracture patients during weight loading and unloading transitions. The centre of pressure (CoP) data was recorded using force plates for conditions: coxa hip fracture (HC), femur hip fracture (HF), and normal hip joint (NH). The time rate of CoP signals illustrated two major impulses during the loading and unloading phases which were modelled in time and frequency domains. The frequency models were further analysed by applying N&B methods and stability margins were computed for both impaired and healthy conditions. Results illustrated a significant decrease (Kruskal-Wallis's test, p < 0.001) in the intralimb walking stability of both fracture conditions. Further, Spearman's correlation between CoP velocities of fractured and intact limbs illustrated significant interlimb dependencies to maintain walking stability (p < 0.001) during weight loading and unloading transitions. Overall, the HF impairment illustrated the least intralimb walking stability and relatively greater interlimb dependencies. Clinically, these methods and findings are important to measure the recovery in patients undergoing rehabilitation after a hip joint or other lower limb impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Mahmood
- Mechanical, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Faisalabad Campus, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Farhan Maqbool
- Mechanical, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Faisalabad Campus, Pakistan
| | - Anam Raza
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Iqbal
- Department of Computer Science, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
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Naseri A, Lee IC, Huang H, Liu M. Investigating the Association of Quantitative Gait Stability Metrics With User Perception of Gait Interruption Due to Control Faults During Human-Prosthesis Interaction. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2023; 31:4693-4702. [PMID: 37906490 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2023.3328877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to compare the association of different gait stability metrics with the prosthesis users' perception of their own gait stability. Lack of perceived confidence on the device functionality can influence the gait pattern, level of daily activities, and overall quality of life for individuals with lower limb motor deficits. However, the perception of gait stability is subjective and difficult to acquire online. The quantitative gait stability metrics can be objectively measured and monitored using wearable sensors; however, objective measurements of gait stability associated with human's perception of their own gait stability has rarely been reported. By identifying quantitative measurements that associate with users' perceptions, we can gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of an individual's perceived functional outcomes of assistive devices such as prostheses. To achieve our research goal, experiments were conducted to artificially apply internal disturbances in the powered prosthesis while the prosthetic users performed level ground walking. We monitored and compared multiple gait stability metrics and a local measurement to the users' reported perception of their own gait stability. The results showed that the center of pressure progression in the sagittal plane and knee momentum (i.e., residual thigh and prosthesis shank angular momentum about prosthetic knee joint) can potentially estimate the users' perceptions of gait stability when experiencing disturbances. The findings of this study can help improve the development and evaluation of gait stability control algorithms in robotic prosthetic devices.
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Mahmood I, Zia Ur Rahman M, Dehghani-Sanij AA. Modelling and analysis of orthoses generated whole-body vertical vibrations impact on limb stability and compliant dynamics in a ramp gait. Biomed Signal Process Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2022.104163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Naaman T, Hayek R, Gutman I, Springer S. Young, but not in the dark-The influence of reduced lighting on gait stability in middle-aged adults. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280535. [PMID: 37200289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of walking in reduced lighting with or without performing a secondary cognitive task on gait dynamics in middle-aged adults and to compare them with young and old adults. METHODS Twenty young (age 28.8±4.1), 20 middle-aged (age 50.2±4.4), and 19 elderly (age 70.7±4.2) subjects participated in the study. Subjects walked on an instrumented treadmill at a self-determined pace under four conditions in randomized order: (1) walking in usual lighting (1000 lumens); (2) walking in near-darkness (5 lumens); (3) walking in usual lighting with a serial-7 subtraction dual-task; and (4) walking in near-darkness with a serial-7 subtraction dual-task. Variability in stride time and variability in the trajectory of the center of pressure in the sagittal and frontal planes (anterior/posterior and lateral variability) were measured. Repeated measures ANOVA and planned comparisons were used to determine the effects of age, lighting conditions, and cognitive task on each gait outcome. RESULTS Under usual lighting, stride time variability and anterior/posterior variability of the middle-aged subjects were similar to those of the young and lower than those of the old. The lateral variability of the middle-aged subjects was higher than that of young adults under both lighting conditions. Similar to the older adults, the middle-aged participants increased their stride time variability when walking in near-darkness, but they were the only ones to exhibit increased lateral variability and anterior/posterior variability in near-darkness. Young adult gait was not affected by lighting, and concurrent performance of a cognitive task while walking did not affect gait stability in all groups under any of the lighting conditions. CONCLUSIONS Gait stability decreases in middle age when walking in the dark. Recognition of functional deficits in middle age could promote appropriate interventions to optimize aging and reduce fall risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirtsa Naaman
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, The Neuromuscular & Human Performance Laboratory, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Roee Hayek
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, The Neuromuscular & Human Performance Laboratory, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Itai Gutman
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, The Neuromuscular & Human Performance Laboratory, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Shmuel Springer
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, The Neuromuscular & Human Performance Laboratory, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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Random forest algorithms to classify frailty and falling history in seniors using plantar pressure measurement insoles: a large-scale feasibility study. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:746. [PMID: 36096722 PMCID: PMC9469527 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03425-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Frailty and falls are two adverse characteristics of aging that impair the quality of life of senior people and increase the burden on the healthcare system. Various methods exist to evaluate frailty, but none of them are considered the gold standard. Technological methods have also been proposed to assess the risk of falling in seniors. This study aims to propose an objective method for complementing existing methods used to identify the frail state and risk of falling in older adults. Method A total of 712 subjects (age: 71.3 ± 8.2 years, including 505 women and 207 men) were recruited from two Japanese cities. Two hundred and three people were classified as frail according to the Kihon Checklist. One hundred and forty-two people presented with a history of falling during the previous 12 months. The subjects performed a 45 s standing balance test and a 20 m round walking trial. The plantar pressure data were collected using a 7-sensor insole. One hundred and eighty-four data features were extracted. Automatic learning random forest algorithms were used to build the frailty and faller classifiers. The discrimination capabilities of the features in the classification models were explored. Results The overall balanced accuracy for the recognition of frail subjects was 0.75 ± 0.04 (F1-score: 0.77 ± 0.03). One sub-analysis using data collected for men aged > 65 years only revealed accuracies as high as 0.78 ± 0.07 (F1-score: 0.79 ± 0.05). The overall balanced accuracy for classifying subjects with a recent history of falling was 0.57 ± 0.05 (F1-score: 0.62 ± 0.04). The classification of subjects relative to their frailty state primarily relied on features extracted from the plantar pressure series collected during the walking test. Conclusion In the future, plantar pressures measured with smart insoles inserted in the shoes of senior people may be used to evaluate aspects of frailty related to the physical dimension (e.g., gait and balance alterations), thus allowing assisting clinicians in the early identification of frail individuals. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03425-5.
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Mahmood I, Raza A, Maqbool HF, Dehghani-Sanij AA. Evaluation of an ankle–foot orthosis effect on gait transitional stability during ramp ascent/descent. Med Biol Eng Comput 2022; 60:2119-2132. [DOI: 10.1007/s11517-022-02587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Mahmood I, Raza A, Dehghani-Sanij AA. Evaluation of an adjustable ankle-foot orthosis impact on walking stability during gait transitional phases. Med Eng Phys 2022; 100:103720. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Discriminative Mobility Characteristics between Neurotypical Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults Using Wireless Inertial Sensors. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21196644. [PMID: 34640963 PMCID: PMC8512820 DOI: 10.3390/s21196644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Age-related mobility research often highlights significant mobility differences comparing neurotypical young and older adults, while neglecting to report mobility outcomes for middle-aged adults. Moreover, these analyses regularly do not determine which measures of mobility can discriminate groups into their age brackets. Thus, the current study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis for commonly performed aspects of mobility (walking, turning, sit-to-stand, and balance) to determine which variables were significantly different and furthermore, able to discriminate between neurotypical young adults (YAs), middle-aged adults (MAAs), and older adults (OAs). This study recruited 20 YAs, 20 MAAs, and 20 OAs. Participants came into the laboratory and completed mobility testing while wearing wireless inertial sensors. Mobility tests assessed included three distinct two-minute walks, 360° turns, five times sit-to-stands, and a clinical balance test, capturing 99 distinct mobility metrics. Of the various mobility tests assessed, only 360° turning measures demonstrated significance between YAs and MAAs, although the capacity to discriminate between groups was achieved for gait and turning measures. A variety of mobility measures demonstrated significance between MAAs and OAs, and furthermore discrimination was achieved for each mobility test. These results indicate greater mobility differences between MAAs and OAs, although discrimination is achievable for both group comparisons.
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Mahmood I, Martinez-Hernandez U, Dehghani-Sanij AA. A model identification approach to quantify impact of whole-body vertical vibrations on limb compliant dynamics and walking stability. Med Eng Phys 2020; 80:8-17. [PMID: 32451270 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Extensive research is ongoing in the field of orthoses/exoskeleton design for efficient lower limbs assistance. However, despite wearable devices reported to improve lower limb mobility, their structural impacts on whole-body vertical dynamics have not been investigated. This study introduced a model identification approach and frequency domain analysis to quantify the impacts of orthosis-generated vibrations on limb stability and contractile dynamics. Experiments were recorded in the motion capture lab using 11 unimpaired subjects by wearing an adjustable ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). The lower limb musculoskeletal structure was identified as spring-mass (SM) and spring-mass-damper (SMD) based compliant models using the whole-body centre-of-mass acceleration data. Furthermore, Nyquist and Bode methods were implemented to quantify stabilities resulting from vertical impacts. Our results illustrated a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in lower limb contractile properties by wearing AFO compared with a normal walk. Also, stability margins quantified by wearing AFO illustrated a significant variance in terms of gain-margins (p < 0.05) for both loading and unloading phases whereas phase-margins decreased (p < 0.05) only for the respective unloading phases. The methods introduced here provide evidence that wearable orthoses significantly affect lower limb vertical dynamics and should be considered when evaluating orthosis/prosthesis/exoskeleton effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Mahmood
- Institute of Design, Robotics, and Optimisation, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| | - Uriel Martinez-Hernandez
- Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Design, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Abbas A Dehghani-Sanij
- Institute of Design, Robotics, and Optimisation, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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Mahmood I, Martinez-Hernandez U, Dehghani-Sanij AA. Evaluation of gait transitional phases using neuromechanical outputs and somatosensory inputs in an overground walk. Hum Mov Sci 2020; 69:102558. [PMID: 31989950 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2019.102558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In a bipedal walk, the human body experiences continuous changes in stability especially during weight loading and unloading transitions which are reported crucial to avoid fall. Prior stability assessment methods are unclear to quantify stabilities during these gait transitions due to methodological and/or measurement limitations. This study introduces Nyquist and Bode methods to quantify stability gait transitional stabilities using the neuromechanical output (CoP) and somatosensory input (GRF) responses. These methods are implemented for five different walking conditions grouped into walking speed and imitated rotational impairments. The trials were recorded with eleven healthy subjects using motion cameras and force platforms. The time rate of change in O/Is illustrated impulsive responses and modelled in the frequency domain. Nyquist and Bode stability methods are applied to quantify stability margins. Stability margins from outputs illustrated loading phases as stable and unloading phases as unstable in all walking conditions. There was a strong intralimb compensatory interaction (p < .001, Spearman correlation) found between opposite limbs. Overall, both walking groups illustrated a decrease (p < .05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) in stability margins compared with normal/preferred speed walk. Further, stabilities quantified from outputs were found greater in magnitudes than the instability quantified from inputs illustrating the neuromotor balance control ability. These stability outcomes were also compared by applying extrapolated-CoM method. These methods of investigating gait dynamic stability are considered as having important implications for the assessment of ankle-foot impairments, rehabilitation effectiveness, and wearable orthoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Mahmood
- Institute of Design, Robotics, and Optimisation, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Abbas A Dehghani-Sanij
- Institute of Design, Robotics, and Optimisation, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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van Kooten D, Hettinga F, Duffy K, Jackson J, Taylor MJD. Are there associations with age and sex in walking stability in healthy older adults? Gait Posture 2018; 60:65-70. [PMID: 29161624 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The variability of the centre of pressure (COP) during walking can provide information in relation to stability when walking. The aim of this study was to investigate if age and sex were associated with COP variability, COP excursions, and COP velocities during walking. One-hundred and fourteen older adults (age 65.1±5.5 yrs.) participated in the study. A Kistler force platform (1000Hz) recorded the ground reaction forces and COPs during walking at a self-selected walking speed. The stance phase was divided, using the vertical GRF, into four sub-phases: loading response (LR), mid-stance (MSt), terminal stance (TSt), and pre-swing (PSw). The standard deviations of the COP displacement (variability), the COP velocity, and COP excursion in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions, as well as the resultant magnitude were assessed. When controlling for walking speed, a greater age was associated with a higher variability and excursion of the COP during LR only suggesting that stability is maintained during the majority of the stance phase. During LR lower COP velocity was significantly associated for females for anterior-posterior and total COP, which may be a strategy to facilitate stability before, and moving into, MSt and TSt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan van Kooten
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Florentina Hettinga
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Kim Duffy
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Jo Jackson
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Matthew J D Taylor
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.
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Sole G, Pataky T, Sole CC, Hale L, Milosavljevic S. Age-related plantar centre of pressure trajectory changes during barefoot walking. Gait Posture 2017; 57:188-192. [PMID: 28654792 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Plantar centre of pressure (COP) variables during gait have been used to predict risk of injury, or consequences thereof. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of age on the COP trajectory during barefoot gait at a self-selected speed. 287 participants (aged 18-80year, 163 women) walked barefoot at self-selected speed across a Footscan® force platform, completing five trials for each side. COP trajectories were extracted and trajectory-level canonical correlation analysis was used to test their correlation with age. Post hoc linear regressions were performed on the medio-lateral (COPx) and anterior-posterior (COPy) components. The test statistic trajectory exceeded the critical threshold for the left (p=0.001) and right foot (p=0.003). Post hoc analyses showed positive correlation between age and COPx in late stance, placed more laterally with increasing age, while no significant correlation was found for COPy. While no significant correlations were observed for the test statistic trajectory during heel strike and mid-stance, post hoc analysis indicated that the COPx component was placed more laterally at heel strike for the left foot with increasing age (p=0.016). The findings suggest that older individuals tend to push-off with less metatarso-phalangeal dorsiflexion. These results do not necessarily imply that ageing itself causes the observed correlation. Further evidence is needed to determine whether the laterally placed COP during roll-off may be a useful factor for determining risk for falling in the older population, or as a risk for future injuries or overuse disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Sole
- Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand.
| | - Todd Pataky
- Institute of Fiber Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, Nagano, 386-8567, Japan
| | | | - Leigh Hale
- Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Stephan Milosavljevic
- School of Physical Therapy, University of Saskatchewan, 1121 College Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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de Souza EC, Svoboda Z, Bizovská L, Lehnert M. Relation between knee extensors' strength, postural stability and variability of centre of pressure displacement during gait in adult women. ACTA GYMNICA 2017. [DOI: 10.5507/ag.2017.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Variability of spatial temporal gait parameters and center of pressure displacements during gait in elderly fallers and nonfallers: A 6-month prospective study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171997. [PMID: 28241008 PMCID: PMC5328253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering that most of the falls in elderly population arise during walking, tests derived from walking performance would be desirable for comprehensive fall risk assessment. The analysis of spatial temporal parameters and the center of pressure displacement, which represents the interaction between the human body and the ground, would be beneficial. The aim of this study was to compare spatial temporal gait parameters and their variability and the variability of the center of pressure displacement between elderly fallers and nonfallers during gait at self-selected, defined and fast speeds. A prospective study design was used. At the baseline, measurements of ground reaction force during gait at self-selected, defined and fast walking speeds by two force plates were performed. In addition, the Tinetti balance assessment tool, the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale were used. Mean and coefficient of variation of spatial temporal gait parameters and standard deviations of center of pressure displacement during loading response, midstance, terminal stance and preswing phases were calculated. Comparison of the fallers and nonfallers exhibited no significant difference in clinical tool, scales or spatial temporal parameters. Compared to nonfallers’ increased variability of walking speed at self-selected and defined speed, step width at fast walking speed and center of pressure displacement during preswing phase in medial-lateral directions at defined walking speed was found in fallers. However, application of the Holm-Bonferroni procedure for multiple comparisons exhibited no significant effect of group in any of the gait parameters. In general, our study did not observe an effect of group (fallers vs. nonfallers) on variability of spatial temporal parameters and center of pressure movement during gait. However, walking speed, step width as well as standard deviation of COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction during preswing exhibited a certain potential for distinguishing between elderly fallers and nonfallers.
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Postural seated balance in children can be assessed with good reliability. Gait Posture 2016; 47:68-73. [PMID: 27264406 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seated postural stability can be measured using Tekscan, CONFORMat. Standing postural stability has gained great clinical and, research value by use of different force platforms with mostly good reliability. No reliability testing or biologic variation assessment has been documented regarding seated balance. This study determines the reliability of the parameters of seated balance in healthy children using the Tekscan CONFORMat equipment. METHODS Sixty-six healthy children completed six measurements of seating position the first three with the child seated in a relaxed normal back position and the next three with the child seated in a complete up-right back position. The SAM software calculated five default parameters of balance (area, distance, variability, antero-posterior (AP) excursion and left-right excursion). RESULTS Reliability parameters were assessed by one-way analysis of variance intra-class correlation (ICC) proving excellent reliability for relaxed and up-right back position with respect to distance (0.75/0.84) and good reliability with respect to variability (0.61/0.62) and area (0.61/0.60). AP excursion (0.41/0.59) and left-right excursion (0.54/0.24) showed fair to poor reliability. CONCLUSION In conclusion, two of the five default parameters of balance used in the Tekscan CONFORMat system are direction-independent parameters and have been found reproducible for measuring seated balance in children. This study can be used as reference for comparisons of seated balance in children with affected seated postural control and for evaluating a clinical treatment effect.
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Carrying shopping bags does not alter static postural stability and gait parameters in healthy older females. Gait Posture 2016; 46:81-5. [PMID: 27131182 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Food shopping is an important aspect of maintaining independence and social interaction in older age. Carriage of shopping bags alters the body's weight distribution which, depending on load distribution, could potentially increase instability during standing and walking. The study examined the effect of carrying UK style shopping bags on static postural stability and gait in healthy older and young females. Nine older (71.0±6.0 years) and 10 young (26.7±5.2 years) females were assessed in five conditions carrying no bags, one 1.5kg bag in each hand, one 3kg bag in each hand, one 1.5kg bag in preferred hand, one 3kg bag in preferred hand. Antero-posterior and medio-lateral displacement, and 95% ellipse area from a 30s quiet standing were used for postural stability assessment. Stride length and its coefficient of variation, total double support time, step asymmetry and gait stability ratio were calculated from 1min treadmill walking at self-selected speed for gait assessment. Carrying shopping bags did not negatively affect postural stability or gait variables, in either group. Further, in older individuals, a decrease in sway velocity was found when holding bags during the postural stability assessment (p<0.05), suggesting that carriage of bags, irrespective of the load distribution, may have a stabilising effect during quiet standing. These results should help to alleviate concerns regarding safety of carrying shopping bags and help encourage shopping, both as a social and as a physical activity.
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Effect of lower limb preference on variability of centre of pressure movement during gait. ACTA GYMNICA 2015. [DOI: 10.5507/ag.2015.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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