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Arauz PG, Garcia MG, Chiriboga P, Okushiro V, Vinueza B, Fierro K, Zuñiga J, Taco-Vasquez S, Kao I, Sisto SA. In-vivo 3-dimensional spine and lower body gait symmetry analysis in healthy individuals. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28345. [PMID: 38689989 PMCID: PMC11059545 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28345] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous research studies have delved into the biomechanics of walking, focusing on the spine and lower extremities. However, understanding the symmetry of walking in individuals without health issues poses a challenge, as those with normal mobility may exhibit uneven movement patterns due to inherent functional differences between their left and right limbs. The goal of this study is to examine the three-dimensional kinematics of gait symmetry in the spine and lower body during both typical and brisk overground walking in healthy individuals. The analysis will utilize statistical methods and symmetry index approaches. Furthermore, the research aims to investigate whether factors such as gender and walking speed influence gait symmetry. Methods Sixty young adults in good health, comprising 30 males and 30 females, underwent motion capture recordings while engaging in both normal and fast overground walking. The analysis focused on interlimb comparisons and corresponding assessments of side-specific spine and pelvis motions. Results Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) predominantly revealed gait symmetries between corresponding left and right motions in the spine, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle during both normal and fast overground walking. Notably, both genders exhibited asymmetric pelvis left-right obliquity, with women and men showing an average degree of asymmetry between sides of 0.9 ± 0.1° and 1.5 ± 0.1°, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis suggested that neither sex nor walking speed appeared to exert influence on the 3D kinematic symmetry of the spine, pelvis, and lower body in healthy individuals during gait. While the maximum normalized symmetry index (SInorm) values for the lower thorax, upper lumbar, lower lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle displayed significant differences between sexes and walking speeds for specific motions, no interaction between sex and walking speed was observed. Significance The findings underscore the potential disparities in data interpretations between the two approaches. While SPM discerns temporal variations in movement, these results offer valuable insights that may enhance our comprehension of gait symmetry in healthy individuals, surpassing the limitations of straightforward discrete parameters like the maximum SInorm. The information gleaned from this study could serve as reference indicators for diagnosing and evaluating abnormal gait function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G. Arauz
- Department of Orthopaedics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Maria-Gabriela Garcia
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Patricio Chiriboga
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Vinnicius Okushiro
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Bonnie Vinueza
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Kleber Fierro
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - José Zuñiga
- Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías “El Politécnico”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Sebastian Taco-Vasquez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Imin Kao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Sue Ann Sisto
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Rekant J, Chambers A, Suri A, Hergenroeder A, Sejdic E, Brach J. Weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity is associated with movement quality in overweight and obese older adults, independent of age. Aging Clin Exp Res 2023; 35:2941-2950. [PMID: 37861959 PMCID: PMC10735209 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02584-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity can improve function and decrease healthcare spending among overweight and obese older adults. Although unstructured physical activity has been related to cardiometabolic improvements, the relationship between unstructured activity and movement quality is unclear. AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the association of amount of unstructured free-living moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with measures of movement quality in overweight and obese older adults. METHODS The association of MVPA with movement quality was assessed in 165 overweight and obese older adults (Age: 77.0(8.0) years; Body mass index (BMI): 29.2(5.3) kg/m2). Participants performed overground walking, the Figure of 8 Walk test, and the Five-Times Sit to Stand. Weekly physical activity was measured using a waist-worn Actigraph activity monitor. RESULTS Movement quality during straight path [gait speed (ρ = 0.30, p < 0.01), stride length (ρ = 0.33, p < 0.01), double-limb support time (ρ = -0.26, p < 0.01), and gait symmetry (ρ = 0.17, p = 0.02)] and curved path [F8W time (ρ = -0.22, p < 0.01) and steps (ρ = -0.22, p < 0.01)] walking were associated with weekly minutes of MVPA after controlling for age. Five-Times Sit to Stand performance was not significantly associated with weekly minutes of MVPA (ρ = -0.10, p = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS Older adults with high BMIs who are less active also demonstrate poorer movement quality, independent of age. Physical activity engagement and task-specific training should be targeted in interventions to promote healthy aging, decrease falls, and delay disability development. Future work should consider the interconnected nature of movement quality with physical activity engagement and investigate if targeting one influences the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Rekant
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - April Chambers
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anisha Suri
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Andrea Hergenroeder
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ervin Sejdic
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jen Brach
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Spine and lower body symmetry during treadmill walking in healthy individuals-In-vivo 3-dimensional kinematic analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275174. [PMID: 36201499 PMCID: PMC9536630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is relevant to understand spine and lower body motions in healthy individuals for a variety of applications, such as clinical diagnosis, implant design, and the analysis of treatment outcomes, proper assessment and characterization of normative gait symmetry in healthy individuals remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo 3-dimensional (3D) spine and lower body gait symmetry kinematics during treadmill walking in healthy individuals. Sixty healthy young adults (30 males and 30 females) were evaluated during normal and fast treadmill walking using a motion capture system approach. Statistical parametric mapping and the normalized symmetry index approaches were used to determine spine, pelvis, and lower body asymmetries during treadmill walking. The spine and pelvis angular motions associated with the left and right lower limb motions, as well as the left and right lower extremity joint angles were compared for normal and fast treadmill walking. The lower lumbar left-right rotation (5.74±0.04°) and hip internal rotation (5.33±0.18°) presented the largest degrees of asymmetry during normal treadmill. Upper lumbar left-right lateral flexion (1.48±0.14°) and knee flexion (2.98±0.13°) indicated the largest asymmetries and during fast treadmill walking. Few asymmetry patterns were similar between normal and fast treadmill walking, whereas others appeared either only during normal or fast treadmill walking in this cohort of participants. These findings could provide insights into better understanding gait asymmetry in healthy individuals, and use them as reference indicators in diagnosing and evaluating abnormal gait function.
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Cimolin V, Gobbi M, Buratto C, Ferraro S, Fumagalli A, Galli M, Capodaglio P. A Comparative Analysis of Shoes Designed for Subjects with Obesity Using a Single Inertial Sensor: Preliminary Results. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22030782. [PMID: 35161528 PMCID: PMC8840424 DOI: 10.3390/s22030782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Walking remains a highly recommended form of exercise for the management of obesity. Thus, comfortable and adequate shoes represent, together with the prescription of a safe adapted physical activity, an important means to achieve the recommended physical activity target volume. However, the literature on shoes specific for obese individuals is inadequate. The aim of the present study was to compare the performance of shoes specifically designed for subjects with obesity with everyday sneakers during instrumented 6-min walking test and outdoor 30-min ambulation in a group of subjects with obesity using a single wearable device. Twenty-three obese individuals (mean age 58.96 years) were recruited and classified into two groups: deconditioned (n = 13) and non-deconditioned patients (n = 10). Each participant was evaluated with his/her daily sneakers and the day after with shoes specifically designed for people with obesity by means of a questionnaire related to the comfort related to each model of shoes and instrumentally during the i6MWT and an outdoor walking test. The results showed that the specifically designed shoes displayed the higher score as for comfort, in particular in the deconditioned group. During the i6MWT, the distance walked, and step length significantly increased in the deconditioned group when specifically designed shoes were worn; no significant changes were observed in the non-deconditioned individuals. The deconditioned group displayed longer step length during the outdoor 30-min ambulation test. In the non-deconditioned group, the use of specific shoes correlated to better performance in terms of gait speed and cadence. These data, although preliminary, seem to support the hypothesis that shoes specifically conceived and designed for counteracting some of the known functional limitations in subjects with obesity allow for a smoother, more stable and possibly less fatiguing gait schema over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Cimolin
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milan, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Michele Gobbi
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Research Lab for Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, via Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo di Oggebbio, Italy; (M.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Camillo Buratto
- Podartis SRL, via Erizzo 123/c, 31035 Piancavallo, Italy; (C.B.); (S.F.)
| | - Samuele Ferraro
- Podartis SRL, via Erizzo 123/c, 31035 Piancavallo, Italy; (C.B.); (S.F.)
| | - Andrea Fumagalli
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Research Lab for Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, via Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo di Oggebbio, Italy; (M.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Manuela Galli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milan, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Paolo Capodaglio
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Research Lab for Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, via Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo di Oggebbio, Italy; (M.G.); (A.F.)
- Department Surgical Sciences, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Jinés Viso MDM, Paez Moguer J. El tiempo de apoyo durante la marcha en relación con la edad infantil. REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE PODOLOGÍA 2022. [DOI: 10.20986/revesppod.2022.1589/2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Alrawashdeh W, Siebers HL, Reim J, Rath B, Tingart M, Eschweiler J. Gait symmetry - A valid parameter for pre and post planning for total knee arthroplasty. JOURNAL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL & NEURONAL INTERACTIONS 2022; 22:102-112. [PMID: 35234165 PMCID: PMC8919661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine whether GS can help to plan and rearrange the treated side by using IMUs to measure the joint angle of the hip, knee, and ankle. We hypothesized that the kinematics in healthy individuals for both sides are approximately equal during walking. METHODS IMUs were used to measure the joint angles of 25 healthy participants during walking. The participants performed the 10-meter walk test. The normalized symmetry index (SInorm) was used to calculate the symmetry of joint angles for the hip, knee, and ankle throughout the gait cycle. RESULTS The SInorm demonstrated high symmetry between both legs; and the ranges were -1.5% and 1.1% for the hip, -3.0% and 3.1% for the knee, and -12% and 9.2% for the ankle joint angle throughout the gait cycle. CONCLUSION The SInorm provides strong information that can be helpful in the planning process for the surgeries. Further, the IMUs system gives the possibility to measure the patients before their surgeries and use their data to plan and rearrange for the operated side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Alrawashdeh
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany,Corresponding author: Waleed Alrawashdeh, M.A., Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany E-mail:
| | - Hannah Lena Siebers
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julia Reim
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Björn Rath
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Wels, Austria
| | - Markus Tingart
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Eschweiler
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Siebers HL, Alrawashdeh W, Betsch M, Migliorini F, Hildebrand F, Eschweiler J. Comparison of different symmetry indices for the quantification of dynamic joint angles. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2021; 13:130. [PMID: 34666818 PMCID: PMC8527670 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-021-00355-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symmetry is a sign of physiological and healthy movements, as pathologies are often described by increased asymmetries. Nevertheless, based on precisely measured data, even healthy individuals will show small asymmetries in their movements. However, so far there do not exist commonly accepted methods and reference values for gait symmetry in a healthy collective. Therefore, a comparison and presentation of reference values calculated by 3 different methods of symmetry indices for lower limb joint angles during walking, ascending, and descending stairs were shown. METHODS Thirty-five healthy participants were analyzed during walking, ascending, and descending stairs with the help of the inertial measurement system MyoMotion. Using the normalized symmetry index (SInorm), the symmetry index (SI) as the integral of the symmetry function, and another normalized symmetry index (NSI), the symmetry of joint angles was evaluated. For statistical evaluation of differences, repeated measurement models and Bland-Altman-Plots were used. RESULTS Apart from a bias between the symmetry indices, they were comparable in the predefined limits of 5%. For all parameters, significantly higher asymmetry was found for ankle dorsi/-plantarflexion, compared with the hip and knee flexion. Moreover, the interaction effect of the joint and movement factors was significant, with an increased asymmetry of the hip and knee during descending stairs greater than while ascending stairs or walking, but a reduced symmetry of the ankle during walking when compared to descending. The movement only showed significant effects when analyzing the SInorm. CONCLUSION Even for healthy individuals, small asymmetries of movements were found and presented as reference values using 3 different symmetry indices for dynamic lower limb joint angles during 3 different movements. For the quantification of symmetrical movements differences between the joints, movements, and especially their interaction, are necessary to be taken into account. Moreover, a bias between the methods should be noted. The potential for each presented symmetry index to identify pathological movements or track a rehabilitation process was shown but has to be proven in further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION DRKS00025878.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Lena Siebers
- Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Waleed Alrawashdeh
- Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcel Betsch
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim of the University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Filippo Migliorini
- Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Hildebrand
- Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Eschweiler
- Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Elazeem MRA, Eltohamy AM, Ali MS. Association between body mass index and spatial gait parameters in primary school children. BULLETIN OF FACULTY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43161-021-00037-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Increasing BMI is associated with increased risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers whereas a lower BMI is associated with an increased risk of mortality, postsurgical complications, infection, and length of hospital stay as a result. Locomotion is a unique feature of the animal kingdom. It allows individuals to meet others, to find better food and a better climate, to pursue prey, or to escape impending danger. The aim of the current study was to determine the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and spatial gait parameters in primary school children.
Results
A total of 320 healthy children from primary schools were enrolled. The participants comprised 185 boys and 135 girls with a mean age of 10.05 ± 0.95 years, mean weight of 38.49 ± 12.2 kg, a mean height of 139.25 ± 10.12 cm, and a mean BMI of 19.35 ± 4.55 kg/m2. BMI was evaluated by the KINLEE Electronic Personal Scale with Height Measurement and CDC charts for boys and girls and equation of BMI. Spatial gait parameters were evaluated by a pediatric run-based anaerobic sprint test with an Omron pedometer to assess step and stride length.
Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient to study the relationship between variables. A correlation was performed between the variables, and the coefficient of determination was calculated. The significance level was set at 5% for all analyses. There was no significant relationship between BMI and spatial gait parameters (step length and stride length) (r = 0.008, p = 0.88 and r = 0.02, p = 0.7, respectively).
Conclusion
According to the results, we concluded that there was no significant relationship between BMI and the measured gait parameters (step length and stride length).
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Schifino G, Cimolin V, Pau M, da Cunha MJ, Leban B, Porta M, Galli M, Souza Pagnussat A. Functional Electrical Stimulation for Foot Drop in Post-Stroke People: Quantitative Effects on Step-to-Step Symmetry of Gait Using a Wearable Inertial Sensor. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21030921. [PMID: 33573046 PMCID: PMC7866372 DOI: 10.3390/s21030921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The main purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of foot drop stimulators (FDS) in individuals with stroke by means of spatio-temporal and step-to-step symmetry, harmonic ratio (HR), parameters obtained from trunk accelerations acquired using a wearable inertial sensor. Thirty-two patients (age: 56.84 ± 9.10 years; 68.8% male) underwent an instrumental gait analysis, performed using a wearable inertial sensor before and a day after the 10-session treatment (PRE and POST sessions). The treatment consisted of 10 sessions of 20 min of walking on a treadmill while using the FDS device. The spatio-temporal parameters and the HR in the anteroposterior (AP), vertical (V), and mediolateral (ML) directions were computed from trunk acceleration data. The results showed that time had a significant effect on the spatio-temporal parameters; in particular, a significant increase in gait speed was detected. Regarding the HRs, the HR in the ML direction was found to have significantly increased (+20%), while those in the AP and V directions decreased (approximately 13%). Even if further studies are necessary, from these results, the HR seems to provide additional information on gait patterns with respect to the traditional spatio-temporal parameters, advancing the assessment of the effects of FDS devices in stroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Schifino
- Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil; (G.S.); (M.J.d.C.); (A.S.P.)
- Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Veronica Cimolin
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-2399-3359; Fax: +39-02-2399-3360
| | - Massimiliano Pau
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.); (B.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Maira Jaqueline da Cunha
- Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil; (G.S.); (M.J.d.C.); (A.S.P.)
- Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Bruno Leban
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.); (B.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Micaela Porta
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.); (B.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Manuela Galli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Aline Souza Pagnussat
- Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil; (G.S.); (M.J.d.C.); (A.S.P.)
- Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
- Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 900050-170, Brazil
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Cimolin V, Pau M, Cau N, Leban B, Porta M, Capodaglio P, Sartorio A, Grugni G, Galli M. Changes in symmetry during gait in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2020; 23:1094-1101. [PMID: 32619156 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2020.1787999] [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] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Most studies on locomotion of individuals with the Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) have been performed in a laboratory setting using quantitative motion analysis. Recently, wireless inertial sensors have been successfully employed for gait analysis in different pathological states with the advantages of reproducing a testing condition very close to those encountered in daily living. Using such devices, it is possible not only to characterize the conventional spatio-temporal parameters, but also extract information on further less conventional metrics, such as the harmonic ratio (HR), a measure of step-to-step symmetry based on trunk acceleration processing. In the present study, this technique was used to quantify gait parameters during level walking in 20 adults with PWS who were compared to 20 unaffected individuals. While no differences between the two groups were found in terms of spatio-temporal parameters, individuals with PWS exhibited significantly reduced values of HR in the antero-posterior and vertical directions. Such results, which indicate a poorer gait symmetry in PWS, suggest that upper body accelerations, as well as HR, provide novel information on gait in people with PWS that could not be extracted from spatio-temporal parameters only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Cimolin
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Pau
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicola Cau
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Clinical Lab for Gait Analysis and Posture, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Italy Piancavallo di Oggebbio (Verbania)
| | - Bruno Leban
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Micaela Porta
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Capodaglio
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Clinical Lab for Gait Analysis and Posture, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Italy Piancavallo di Oggebbio (Verbania)
| | - Alessandro Sartorio
- Division of Auxology and Experimental Laboratory for Auxo-endocrinological Research, Ospedale S. Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo di Oggebbio (Verbania), Italy
| | - Graziano Grugni
- Division of Auxology and Experimental Laboratory for Auxo-endocrinological Research, Ospedale S. Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo di Oggebbio (Verbania), Italy
| | - Manuela Galli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Pau M, Mulas I, Putzu V, Asoni G, Viale D, Mameli I, Leban B, Allali G. Smoothness of Gait in Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Individuals: A Study on Italian Elderly Using Wearable Inertial Sensor. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20123577. [PMID: 32599872 PMCID: PMC7348719 DOI: 10.3390/s20123577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The main purpose of the present study was to compare the smoothness of gait in older adults with and without cognitive impairments, using the harmonic ratio (HR), a metric derived from trunk accelerations. Ninety older adults aged over 65 (age: 78.9 ± 4.8 years; 62% female) underwent instrumental gait analysis, performed using a wearable inertial sensor and cognitive assessment with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R). They were stratified into three groups based on their MMSE performance: healthy controls (HC), early and advanced cognitive decline (ECD, ACD). The spatio-temporal and smoothness of gait parameters, the latter expressed through HR in anteroposterior (AP), vertical (V) and mediolateral (ML) directions, were derived from trunk acceleration data. The existence of a relationship between gait parameters and degree of cognitive impairment was also explored. The results show that individuals with ECD and ACD exhibited significantly slower speed and shorter stride length, as well as reduced values of HR in the AP and V directions compared to HC, while no significant differences were found between ECD and ACD in any of the investigated parameters. Gait speed, stride length and HR in all directions were found to be moderately correlated with both MMSE and ACE-R scores. Such findings suggest that, in addition to the known changes in gait speed and stride length, important reductions in smoothness of gait are likely to occur in older adults, owing to early/prodromal stages of cognitive impairment. Given the peculiar nature of these metrics, which refers to overall body stability during gait, the calculation of HR may result in being useful in improving the characterization of gait patterns in older adults with cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Pau
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (I.M.); (B.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-6753264
| | - Ilaria Mulas
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (I.M.); (B.L.)
| | - Valeria Putzu
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Geriatric Unit SS. Trinità Hospital, Via Romagna 16, 09127 Cagliari, Italy; (V.P.); (G.A.); (D.V.); (I.M.)
| | - Gesuina Asoni
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Geriatric Unit SS. Trinità Hospital, Via Romagna 16, 09127 Cagliari, Italy; (V.P.); (G.A.); (D.V.); (I.M.)
| | - Daniela Viale
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Geriatric Unit SS. Trinità Hospital, Via Romagna 16, 09127 Cagliari, Italy; (V.P.); (G.A.); (D.V.); (I.M.)
| | - Irene Mameli
- Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, Geriatric Unit SS. Trinità Hospital, Via Romagna 16, 09127 Cagliari, Italy; (V.P.); (G.A.); (D.V.); (I.M.)
| | - Bruno Leban
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Piazza d’Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy; (I.M.); (B.L.)
| | - Gilles Allali
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurology, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
- Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive & Motor Aging, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Leban B, Cimolin V, Porta M, Arippa F, Pilloni G, Galli M, Pau M. Age-Related Changes in Smoothness of Gait of Healthy Children and Early Adolescents. J Mot Behav 2019; 52:694-702. [PMID: 31650909 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2019.1680949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we acquired and processed trunk accelerations during level walking in 85 children aged 8-13 years to calculate spatio-temporal parameters and Harmonic Ratio (HR), which is a metrics representative of gait smoothness and step-to-step symmetry. The results show that while spatio-temporal parameters remain unchanged once normalized considering individuals' anthropometry, significantly higher values of HR for both the antero-posterior and vertical directions were found in participants aged 12-13 with respect to those of 8-9. This indicates an improvement of gait symmetry, which suggests that the gait maturation process is still ongoing for the age ranges tested here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Leban
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Veronica Cimolin
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Micaela Porta
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Federico Arippa
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pilloni
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Manuela Galli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Pau
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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