Dynamically adjustable foot-ground contact model to estimate ground reaction force during walking and running

Human dynamic models have been used to estimate joint kinetics during various activities. Kinetics estimation is in demand in sports and clinical applications where data on external forces, such as the ground reaction force (GRF), are not available. The purpose of this study was to estimate the GRF during gait by utilizing distance- and velocity-dependent force models between the foot and ground in an inverse-dynamics-based optimization. Ten males were tested as they walked at four different speeds on a force plate-embedded treadmill system. The full-GRF model whose foot-ground reaction elements were dynamically adjusted according to vertical displacement and anterior-posterior speed between the foot and ground was implemented in a full-body skeletal model. The model estimated the vertical and shear forces of the GRF from body kinematics. The shear-GRF model with dynamically adjustable shear reaction elements according to the input vertical force was also implemented in the foot of a full-body skeletal model. Shear forces of the GRF were estimated from body kinematics, vertical GRF, and center of pressure. The estimated full GRF had the lowest root mean square (RMS) errors at the slow walking speed (1.0 m/s) with 4.2, 1.3, and 5.7% BW for anterior–posterior, medial–lateral, and vertical forces, respectively. The estimated shear forces were not significantly different between the full-GRF and shear-GRF models, but the RMS errors of the estimated knee joint kinetics were significantly lower for the shear-GRF model. Providing COP and vertical GRF with sensors, such as an insole-type pressure mat, can help estimate shear forces of the GRF and increase accuracy for estimation of joint kinetics.     

Quantified self and human movement: A review on the clinical impact of wearable sensing and feedback for gait analysis and intervention

The proliferation of miniaturized electronics has fueled a shift toward wearable sensors and feedback devices for the mass population. Quantified self and other similar movements involving wearable systems have gained recent interest. However, it is unclear what the clinical impact of these enabling technologies is on human gait. The purpose of this review is to assess clinical applications of wearable sensing and feedback for human gait and to identify areas of future research. Four electronic databases were searched to find articles employing wearable sensing or feedback for movements of the foot, ankle, shank, thigh, hip, pelvis, and trunk during gait. We retrieved 76 articles that met the inclusion criteria and identified four common clinical applications: (1) identifying movement disorders, (2) assessing surgical outcomes, (3) improving walking stability, and (4) reducing joint loading. Characteristics of knee and trunk motion were the most frequent gait parameters for both wearable sensing and wearable feedback. Most articles performed testing on healthy subjects, and the most prevalent patient populations were osteoarthritis, vestibular loss, Parkinson's disease, and post-stroke hemiplegia. The most widely used wearable sensors were inertial measurement units (accelerometer and gyroscope packaged together) and goniometers. Haptic (touch) and auditory were the most common feedback sensations. This review highlights the current state of the literature and demonstrates substantial potential clinical benefits of wearable sensing and feedback. Future research should focus on wearable sensing and feedback in patient populations, in natural human environments outside the laboratory such as at home or work, and on continuous, long-term monitoring and intervention.     

Dynamic stability margin using a marker based system and Tekscan: A comparison of four gait conditions

Stability during gait is maintained through control of the center of mass (CoM) position and velocity in relation to the base of support (BoS). The dynamic stability margin, or the interaction of the extrapolated center of mass with the closest boundary of the BoS, can reveal possible control errors during gait. The purpose of this study was to investigate a marker based method for defining the BoS, and compare the dynamic stability margin throughout gait in comparison to a BoS defined from foot pressure sensors. The root mean squared difference between these two methodologies ranged from 0.9 cm to 3.5 cm, when walking under four conditions: plantigrade, equinus, everted, and inverted. As the stability margin approaches −35 cm prior to contralateral heel strike, there was approximately 90% agreement between the two systems at this time point. Underestimation of the marker based dynamic stability margin or overestimation of the pressure based dynamic stability margin was due to inaccuracies in defining the medial boundary of the BoS. Overall, care must be taken to ensure similar definitions of the BoS are utilized when comparing the dynamic stability margin between participants and gait conditions.     

鞋跟高度对青年女性下楼梯步态的影响

目的 研究鞋跟高度对青年女性下楼梯步态的影响,分析女性穿高跟鞋下楼梯时的风险因素。方法 利用红外高速运动捕捉系统测试17名青年女性穿4种不同鞋跟高度皮鞋下楼梯的步态,计算受试者的步态时空参数和下肢关节角度。结果 与穿平跟鞋相比,穿3、5、7 cm高跟鞋下楼梯时步态周期增大,支撑相和双支撑相所占步态周期比例减小,步宽显著减小。与穿平跟鞋相比,穿5、7 cm高跟鞋下楼梯时踝关节矢状面内关节活动幅度均较小,穿3、5、7 cm高跟鞋时踝关节水平面内关节活动幅度均较大。穿3、5 cm高跟鞋时膝关节矢状面内关节活动度显著小于穿平跟鞋,穿3、5、7 cm高跟鞋时膝关节水平面内关节活动幅度显著大于穿平跟鞋。穿5、7 cm高跟鞋时髋关节最大屈曲角度显著大于穿平跟鞋,穿3、5、7 cm高跟鞋时髋关节最小屈曲角度显著大于穿平跟鞋。结论 随着鞋跟高度的增加,下楼梯时摆动期占步态周期百分比和步态周期都增大,而支撑相占步态周期百分比、双支撑相（后期）占步态周期百分比和步宽都减小,增加了下楼梯时跌倒的危险;同时,踝、膝关节矢状面内的关节活动幅度逐渐减小,水平面内的关节活动幅度增大。研究结果有助于深入了解鞋跟高度对穿着者下楼梯步态的影响特征和规律,为分析下楼时可能出现的损伤危险提供依据。     

The effect of foot orthoses on joint moment asymmetry in male children with flexible flat feet

Introduction

It has been widely postulated that structural and functional misalignments of the foot, such as flat foot, may cause mechanical deviations of the lower limb during walking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foot orthoses on lower extremity joint moment asymmetry during the stance phase of walking in children with asymptomatic flexible flat feet.

Gait parameters,functional mobility and fall risk in individuals with early to moderate primary open angle glaucoma: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study investigated the influence of early to moderate primary open angle glaucoma on gait, functional mobility and fall risk.

Strategies adopted by younger and older adults while operating a non-pedal tricycle

Background

Exercises that could prevent gait impairment of older adults should be implemented in such a way that practitioners can keep motivation and adherence independent of older adults fitness levels.

A High-Intensity Multicomponent Agility Intervention Improves Parkinson Patients’ Clinical and Motor Symptoms

Objective

To determine the effects of a high-intensity exercise therapy using sensorimotor and visual stimuli on nondemented Parkinson disease (PD) patients’ clinical symptoms, mobility, and standing balance.