Can Computerized Dynamic Posturography detect measured CVEMP and OVEMP abnormalities?
During the early years of spaceflight it was discovered by NASA researchers that on return to earth astronauts were extremely imbalanced and quite incapacitated. This has been elegantly summarized and discussed by Black et al in 1999 [1]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 16, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Arthur I. Mallinson, Anouk C.M. Kuijpers, Gusta Van Zwieten, Juzer Kakal, Warren Mullings, Neil S. Longridge Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Plantarflexor metabolics are sensitive to resting ankle angle and optimal fiber length in computational simulations of gait
Locomotor performance is associated with plantarflexor structure and function in both athletic and patient populations [1 –4]. Longer muscle fascicles allow sprinters to generate more joint power [5], which, in part, explains performance differences between good and great sprinters [6]. Tendon stiffness, a function of both its slack length and material properties, dictates the shortening demands of the plantarflexor muscles and impacts movement efficiency [7–9]. While these muscle-tendon parameters seem to explain functional differences in patient and athletic cohorts, the isolated effects of these structural measureme...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 16, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Josh R. Baxter, Michael W. Hast Source Type: research
Immediate effects of real-time postural biofeedback on spinal posture, muscle activity, and perceived pain severity in adults with neck pain
Neck pain is a common complaint among office workers who hold a static posture during prolonged computer work [1]. Disability associated with neck pain can reduce work productivity and increase absence from work, leading to substantial economic losses [2]. Neck pain is generally multifactorial in origin, and prolonged static sitting has been identified as a major risk factor for developing neck pain [3,4]. The forward head and trunk flexion postures commonly adopted by computer workers could increase mechanical loading in postural muscles due to the greater gravitational moments from the weight of the head and neck in thes...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 15, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Yi-Liang Kuo, Pei-San Wang, Po-Yen Ko, Kuo-Yuan Huang, Yi-Ju Tsai Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Kinematic differences between neutral and flat feet with and without symptoms as measured by the Oxford Foot Model
Idiopathic flexible flatfoot may present as symptomatic or asymptomatic in children; however, it is not clear from current understanding why this is the case. Although standing posture is often used to assess these feet, examining foot motion during dynamic activities such as walking that place greater demands on the feet may be more relevant. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 13, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: C.M. Kerr, A.B. Zavatsky, T. Theologis, J. Stebbins Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Sling-based infant carrying affects lumbar and thoracic spine neuromechanics during standing and walking
Low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) are common problems in women after childbirth with an overall prevalence of 25% [1]. During this time, mothers are required to regularly lift up and carry their infants for longer periods. Previous research indicated that carrying a load in front with the arms caused increased lumbar lordosis [2,3], which has been described as a possible contributing factor in the development of LBP in this population [4]. In addition, anterior load carrying was associated with increased trunk muscle activity [3,5,6], which could be another contributing factor, especially when considering th...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 12, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Stefan Schmid, Mich èle Stauffer, Judit Jäger, Renate List, Silvio Lorenzetti Source Type: research
Identifying methods for quantifying lower limb changes in children with idiopathic toe walking: A systematic review
Toe walking is commonly described as the lack of heel strike at the initial contact phase of the gait cycle. Although toe walking is regarded as a normal variation in gait development in children up to the age of three years [1], the maturation to ankle dorsiflexion at heel strike is usually completed by the age of five years [2,3]. Toe walking may be a consequence of a disease process, trauma or neurogenic influences [4]. Conditions known to cause or be associated with this gait type include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism spectrum disorders, global developmental delays, lower limb injury or tumours. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 10, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Antoni Caserta, Prue Morgan, Cylie Williams Source Type: research
Are accelerometer measures of temporal patterns of static standing associated with lower extremity pain among blue-collar workers?
A considerable proportion of the Western population suffers from pain in the lower extremities [1]. The prevalence rates are 8-32% for knee pain [2 –4], 9-20% for foot/ankle pain [5,6], and 5–11% for hip pain [6,7]. These prevalence rates are higher for workers engaged in physically demanding jobs [3,4,6]. One suggested risk factor is prolonged static standing that may induce muscle discomfort, fatigue, lowered blood flow, and increased ven ous pooling [8–10]. Accordingly, a cross-sectional [6] and a prospective study [11] have observed positive associations between self-reported standing at work and pain in the lowe...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 10, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Francisco Locks, Nidhi Gupta, Pascal Madeleine, Marie Birk J ørgensen, Ana Beatriz Oliveira, Andreas Holtermann Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Performance and reliability of the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test in healthy adolescents from grade 6 to 11
In everyday life as well as in sports-related activities, dynamic balance performance (i.e., the ability to maintain postural stability while the body parts are in motion) represents an important determinant to safely manage weekday activities and to specify the risk of sustaining lower limb injuries in youth [1]. Therefore, dynamic balance tests are frequently applied to investigate age- and training-related adaptations in balance during childhood and adolescence [2,3]. A well-established field-based method to investigate dynamic balance performance is the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ) [4]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 10, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Gerrit Schwiertz, Dennis Brueckner, Simon Schedler, Rainer Kiss, Thomas Muehlbauer Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Assessing lower extremity coordination and coordination variability in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction during walking
The knee is the most prevalently injured joint in adolescent athletes [1], and the foremost cause for sport-related surgeries [2]. An estimated 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures occur each year in the United States alone, for which surgical reconstruction (ACLR) is the standard treatment to restore joint stability and function. Unfortunately, Ardern et al. [3] reported only 82% of patients who underwent ACLR were capable of resuming their previous activities, and little more than half of those who return to sport regained their pre-injury level of performance. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 10, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Kylie Davis, John L. Williams, Brooke A. Sanford, Audrey Zucker-Levin Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Smartphone Technology Can Measure Postural Stability and Discriminate Fall Risk in Older Adults
Falls are the leading cause of injury related death in older adults 65 years and older [1]. Falls not only lead to physical injuries, but they also lead to activity curtailment, physiological deconditioning, and reduction in quality of life [1]. The number of annual fall-related injuries in the United States is expected to be 5.7 million by 2030 [2]. In 2015, the estimated medical cost of falls was 50 billion dollars [3]. Given the frequency and severity of falls, there is a need to identify factors that predict and prevent falls. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 9, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Katherine L. Hsieh, Kathleen L. Roach, Douglas A. Wajda, Jacob J. Sosnoff Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Side does not matter in healthy young and older individuals - Examining the importance of how we match limbs during gait studies
Gait is a basic requirement of daily life, and a major determinant of independence and quality of life [1]. However, gait is frequently impaired by a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, or surgical intervention (e.g. osteoarthritis, Parkinson ’s, stroke, total knee arthroplasty, etc.). In rehabilitation, gait receives a lot of attention due to its importance on restoring patients’ independence [2]. To understand how gait changes from impairment to rehabilitation, it is often necessary to use healthy individuals as a comparison. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 9, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Erik Kowalski, Danilo S. Catelli, Mario Lamontagne Source Type: research
Time-to-Boundary Analysis of Postural Control following Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain
There is strong evidence that acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) impairs postural control that is critical to joint stability and the prevention of falls/recurrent injuries [1,2]. Specifically, postural stability during unipedal (single-leg) stance is affected, not only with the injured limb but also with the uninjured limb [2 –4]. Bilateral deficits following unilateral injury have highlighted centrally mediated changes in postural control that may occur following ALAS. This central mechanism suggests that postural stability during bipedal (double-leg) stance may also be compromised. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 9, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Kyung-Min Kim, Joo-Sung Kim, Jeonghoon Oh, Sae Yong Lee Tags: Short communication Source Type: research
Impact of Gait Analysis on Pathology Identification and Surgical Recommendations in Children with Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect where the spinal column fails to form or close properly in utero, potentially damaging the spinal cord and meninges. Children with the most common and severe forms of spina bifida, myelomeningocele and lipomyelomeningocele, often exhibit complex gait abnormalities due to varying degrees of lower extremity weakness, paralysis, and torsional deformities [1,2]. Accurate identification of gait pathologies and their underlying causes is crucial to managing patients with spina bifida and maintaining their ambulatory and functional abilities [3]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 8, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Nicole M. Mueske, Sylvia Õunpuu, Deirdre D. Ryan, Bitte S. Healy, Jeffrey Thomson, Paul Choi, Tishya A.L. Wren Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Spatiotemporal variability underlying skill in curved-path walking
Walking is a highly skilled motor behavior. A motor skill in that adult human walking developed through a process of motor learning and practice. As a result of this process, mature human walking is a smooth translation of the body, with a stepping pattern that is essentially automatic, reproducible and integrated with postures and phases of gait, adaptive to changes in condition and efficient in performance [1 –3]. It is because of this high degree of consistency in the stepping pattern of walking that greater gait variability during usual straight-path walking has been known to be an early indicator of mobility impairm...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 8, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: KayLynn Bland, Kristin Lowry, Alex Krajek, Taylor Woods, Jessie VanSwearingen Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
Kinematic adaptation and changes in gait classification in running compared to walking in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy
In patients with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP), four typical walking abnormalities have been classified [1,2,3]. This classification was shown to be relevant for the non-surgical and surgical treatment of the patients [1,2,4,5]. The classification is based on the ankle, the knee and the hip joint of the patient ’s affected limb. Abnormal motion and the resulting abnormal kinematic parameters in three-dimensional motion analysis characterize those pathologies. Winters et al. [1] visually classified the hemiplegic patients into these four groups with an increasing degree of involvement from group I to IV a ccord...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 3, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Rafael Kr ätschmer, Harald Böhm, Leonhard Döderlein Tags: Full length article Source Type: research
