A force measuring treadmill in clinical gait analysis

Dierick, Frédéric; Penta, Massimo; Renaut, David; Detrembleur, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2003.11.001

Cited by 95 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The sessions began with a rest period, in which the subjects stood barefoot on the motor-driven treadmill (Mercury LTmed, HP Cosmos Ò , Germany) [13] for the static calibration of kinematic variables ( Fig. 1).…”

Section: Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: kinematics and electromyographic analysis

et al. 2009

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Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a progressive growth disease that affects spinal anatomy, mobility, and left-right trunk symmetry. Consequently, AIS can modify human locomotion. Very few studies have investigated a simple activity like walking in a cohort of well-defined untreated patients with scoliosis. The first goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of scoliosis and scoliosis severity on kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) gait variables compared to an able-bodied population. The second goal is to look for any asymmetry in these parameters during walking. Thirteen healthy girls and 41 females with untreated AIS, with left thoracolumbar or lumbar primary structural curves were assessed. AIS patients were divided into three clinical subgroups (group 1 \ 20°, group 2 between 20 and 40°, and group 3 [ 40°). Gait analysis included synchronous bilateral kinematic and EMG measurements. The subjects walked on a treadmill at 4 km/h (comfortable speed). The tridimensional (3D) shoulder, pelvis, and lower limb motions were measured using 22 reflective markers tracked by four infrared cameras. The EMG timing activity was measured using bipolar surface electrodes on quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles. Statistical comparisons (ANOVA) were performed across groups and sides for kinematic and EMG parameters. The step length was reduced in AIS compared to normal subjects (7% less). Frontal shoulder, pelvis, and hip motion and transversal hip motion were reduced in scoliosis patients (respectively, 21, 27, 28, and 22% less). The EMG recording during walking showed that the quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, gluteus medius, and semitendinosus muscles contracted during a longer part of the stride in scoliotic patients (46% of the stride) compared with normal subjects (35% of the stride). There was no significant difference between scoliosis groups 1, 2, and 3 for any of the kinematic and EMG parameters, meaning that severe scoliosis was not associated with increased differences in gait parameters compared to mild scoliosis. Scoliosis was not associated with any kinematic or EMG left-right asymmetry. In conclusion, scoliosis patients showed significant but slight modifications in gait, even in cases of mild scoliosis. With the naked eye, one could not see any difference from controls, but with powerful gait analysis technology, the pelvic frontal motion (right-left tilting) was reduced, as was the motion in the hips and shoulder. Surprisingly, no asymmetry was noted but the spine seemed dynamically stiffened by the longer contraction time of major spinal and pelvic muscles. Further studies are needed to evaluate the origin and consequences of these observations.

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Section: Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: kinematics and electromyographic analysis

et al. 2009

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“…The sessions began with a rest period, in which the subjects stood barefoot on the motor-driven treadmill (Mercury LTmed, HP Cosmos Ò , Germany) [14] for the static calibration of kinematic and energetic variables. Thereafter, the subjects were asked to walk at a constant speed of 4 km h -1 for a few minutes until a steady state was reached and maintained for at least two minutes.…”

Section: Protocolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: energy cost analysis

et al. 2009

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Walking is a very common activity for the human body. It is so common that the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems are optimized to have the minimum energetic cost at 4 km/h (spontaneous speed). A previous study showed that lumbar and thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients exhibit a reduction of shoulder, pelvic, and hip frontal mobility during gait. A longer contraction duration of the spinal and pelvic muscles was also noted. The energetic cost (C) of walking is normally linked to the actual mechanical work muscles have to perform. This total mechanical work (W tot ) can be divided in two parts: the work needed to move the shoulders and lower limbs relative to the center of mass of the body (COM b ) is known as the internal work (W int ), whereas additional work, known as external work (W ext ), is needed to accelerate and lift up the COM b relative to the ground. Normally, the COM b goes up and down by 3 cm with every step. Pathological walking usually leads to an increase in W tot (often because of increased vertical displacement of the COM b ), and consequently, it increases the energetic cost. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of scoliosis and scoliosis severity on the mechanical work and energetic cost of walking. Fiftyfour female subjects aged 12 to 17 were used in this study. Thirteen healthy girls were in the control group, 12 were in scoliosis group 1 (Cobb angle [Cb] B 20°), 13 were in scoliosis group 2 (20°\ Cb \ 40°), and 16 were in scoliosis group 3 (Cb C 40°). They were assessed by physical examination and gait analysis. The 41 scoliotic patients had an untreated progressive left thoracolumbar or lumbar AIS. During gait analysis, the subject was asked to walk on a treadmill at 4 km h -1 . Movements of the limbs were followed by six infrared cameras, which tracked markers fixed on the body. W int was calculated from the kinematics. The movements of the COM b were derived from the ground reaction forces, and W ext was calculated from the force signal. W tot was equal to W int ? W ext . Oxygen consumption _ VO 2 À Á was measured with a mask to calculate energetic cost (C) and muscular efficiency (W tot /C). Statistical comparisons between the groups were performed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The external work (W ext ) and internal work (W int ) were both reduced from 7 to 22% as a function of the severity of the scoliosis curve. Overall, the total muscular mechanical work (W tot ) was reduced from 7% to 13% in the scoliosis patients. Within scoliosis groups, the W ext for the group 1 (Cb C 20°) and 2 (20 B Cb B 40°) was significantly different from group 3 (Cb C 40°). No significant differences were observed between scoliosis groups for the W int . The W tot did not showed any significant difference between scoliosis groups except between group 1 and 3. The energy cost and _ VO 2 were increased by around 30%. As a result Muscle efficiency was significantly decreased by 23% to 32%, but no significant differences related to the severi...

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“…One force plate was placed in front and one at the back of the treadmill, assuming that only one foot would be on each force plate during the double support phase. However, this is not true for a wide range of test subjects, particularly when measuring forces generated by children and elders [22]. Moreover, designs featuring force plate(s) built under a moving belt can measure accurately only the vertical force components.…”

Section: Single Belt Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modern Facilities for Experimental Measurement of Dynamic Loads Induced by Humans: A Literature Review

Racić

Pavić

Brownjohn

2013

Shock and Vibration

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Abstract. This paper provides a critical overview of available technology and facilities for determining human-induced dynamic forces of civil engineering structures, such as due to walking, running, jumping and bouncing. In addition to traditional equipment for direct force measurements comprising force plate(s), foot pressure insoles and instrumented treadmills, the review also investigates possibility of using optical motion tracking systems (marker-based and marker-free optoelectronic technology) and non-optical motion tracking systems (inertial sensors) to reproduce contact forces between humans and structures based on body kinematics data and known body mass distribution. Although significant technological advancements have been made in the last decade, the literature survey showed that the state-of-the-art force measurements are often limited to individuals in artificial laboratory environments. Experimental identification of seriously needed group-and crowd-induced force data recorded on as-built structures, such as footbridges, grandstands and floors, still remains a challenge due to the complexity of human actions and the lack of adequate equipment.

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A force measuring treadmill in clinical gait analysis

Cited by 95 publications

References 20 publications

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: kinematics and electromyographic analysis

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: kinematics and electromyographic analysis

Gait in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: energy cost analysis

Modern Facilities for Experimental Measurement of Dynamic Loads Induced by Humans: A Literature Review

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