Gait is associated with an important risk factor of falls in the elderly. It is important to find differences of quantitative gait variables between fallers and non-fallers. The aim of this study was to investigate gait patterns in elderly fallers and non-fallers. Thirty-eight fallers and 38 non-fallers of similar age and height participated in this study. Subjects walked across the GaitRite walkway at self-selected comfortable speeds. Spatio-temporal gait variables were measured to characterize gait patterns. Kinetic variables were derived from normalized vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Independent t-tests were performed to compare the fallers with the non-fallers. The fallers walked more slowly with shorter steps and more variable step times than the non-fallers (p< 0.05). The fallers showed a longer stance phase with increased double-limb support than the non-fallers (p< 0.05). The times to reach maximal weight acceptance and mid-stance of the fallers were significantly longer than those of the non-fallers (p< 0.05). These results suggest that spatio-temporal variables and GRF variables would be useful for distinguishing prospective fallers from non-fallers among the elderly.
Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lower limb muscle activity on postural stability and ground type in elderly women subjects. Results : In the double-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, left biceps femoris, left and right tibialis anterior, and left gastrocnemius did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. However right biceps femoris and gastrocnemius showed higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. In the single-support phase, left and right rectus femoris, right biceps femoris, and left and right tibialis anterior did not show a significant difference in postural stability according to ground type. In addition, left biceps femoris had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with lower postural stability. Left gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group with higher postural stability and right gastrocnemius had higher muscle activity in the elderly women group on cushion ground. MethodConclusion : In a dynamic postural stability and cushion ground, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle activity were high. As a result, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius muscle strengthening exercise on cushion ground could be beneficial in the prevention of falling.
We aimed to analyze the muscle activity of adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis during gait and develop the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment by applying the principle of sports taping based on the result of the analysis. We selected 20 male students between the ages of 13 and 18 and divided them into 2 groups: one group consisted of 10 patients with idiopathic scoliosis <20 degrees of Cobb's Angle: the other group had 10 normal students. Using, we measured and analyzed the muscle activity of 8 different regions: left and right latissimus dorsi, left and right thoracolumbar fascia, left and right gluteus medius, and left and right biceps femoris during gait. Our results can be summarized as follows: Firstly, in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the gait showed a significantly low activity of the right latissimus dorsi muscle when the left foot was supported on the ground(p<.05). Secondly, in the overall gait cycle, the patients showed a higher activity of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius than that seen in the normal students: however, this difference was not statistically significant. Thirdly, by applying sports taping on the bisis of the results, this study developed the wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment that could maximize the stimuli of the right latissimus dorsi and alleviate muscle contraction of the right thoracolumbar fascia and right gluteus medius, while expanding the spinal line upward and downward, by focusing on the difference between left and right muscular strength of the muscle activity of the bright latissimus dorsi. Overall, we expect that by wearing of musculo-skeletal functional garment, the muscular functions in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
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