The Kinematic and Kinetic Responses of the Trunk and Lower Extremity Joints during Walking with and without the Spinal Orthosis

Optical Marker-Based Motion Capture of the Human Spine: A Scoping Review of Study Design and Outcomes

Biomechanical analysis of the human spine is crucial to understanding injury patterns. Motion capture technology has gained attention due to its non-invasive nature. Nevertheless, traditional motion capture studies consider the spine a single rigid segment, although its alignment changes during movement. Moreover, guidelines that indicate where markers should be placed for a specific exercise do not exist. This study aims to review the methods used to assess spine biomechanics using motion capture systems to determine the marker sets used, the protocols used, the resulting parameters, the analysed activities, and the characteristics of the studied populations. PRISMA guidelines were used to perform a Scoping Review using SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. Fifty-six journal and conference articles from 1997 to 2023 were considered for the analysis. This review showed that Plug-in-Gait is the most used marker set. The lumbar spine is the segment that generates the most interest because of its high mobility and function as a weight supporter. Furthermore, angular position and velocity are the most common outcomes when studying the spine. Walking, standing, and range of movement were the most studied activities compared to sports and work-related activities. Male and female participants were recruited similarly across all included articles. This review presents the motion capture techniques and measurement outcomes of biomechanical studies of the human spine, to help standardize the field. This work also discusses trends in marker sets, study outcomes, studied segments and segmentation approaches.

Kinematic characteristics of gait with different myopia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Myopia, a condition affecting approximately one-quarter of the world' s population, has been projected to double in prevalence by the year 2050. It can have an impact on postural control during walking and can increase the risk of falls and injuries.

Objective

(1) To examine the abnormal performance of postural control during walking in male college students who used convex lenses for myopia intervention from a kinematic perspective; (2) to establish theoretical foundation for preventing falls and injuries in the myopic population.

Methods

A total of 22 male college students participated in this study. The center of gravity (COG), the percentage of gait cycle (PGC) and the joint angle(JT) were collected as indications of postural control during walking. A quantitative analysis was conducted using a One-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA to examine the variations among the three groups.

Results

During myopic interventions, (1) the range of vertical COG changes is significant to be greater compared with normal vision (P < 0.05). (2) there was an significant increase in the PGC in single-legged support, accompanied by a decrease in the PGC in double-legged support, compared with normal vision (P < 0.05). (3) The myopic intervention leads to increased variability in JT of the hip and the knee during the single-leg support and swing, as compared to individuals with normal vision (P < 0.05). Severe myopic interventions result in more changes in JT of ankle.

Conclusion

Myopia has been found to have a negative impact on postural control during walking, leading to changes in balance, increased instability, and an elevated risk of injury.