Gastrocnemius Tightness Affects Hip and Pelvic Movement in Gait

Abstract

The passive extensibility of skeletal muscles is an important health-related component of physical fitness. Tight gastrocnemius is a common orthopedic problem and frequently leads to overuse injuries of the lower extremity. Moreover, gastrocnemius tightness is commonly associated with lower back pain. Previous studies have reported that tight gastrocnemius results in kinematic and kinetic deviations of the ankle and knee during gait and a greater hip flexion at the moment of maximal ankle dorsiflexion. Accordingly, this study performs an experimental investigation into the effects of tight gastrocnemius on the hip and pelvic movements in gait. Sixteen subjects with tight gastrocnemius (defined as [Formula: see text] of ankle dorsiflexion with knee extended) and 16 healthy individuals matched by age and gender participated in the study. The three-dimensional angles of the hip and pelvis and moments of the hip were obtained for both groups during the stance phase of gait using force plates and a motion analysis system. Compared with the control group, the peak hip flexion angle is significantly higher in the tight group ([Formula: see text]), while the peak hip extension angle is significantly lower ([Formula: see text]). Moreover, the peak pelvic anterior tilt is significantly higher than that of the control group ([Formula: see text]), while the peak pelvic posterior tilt is significantly lower ([Formula: see text]). Finally, the peak extensor moment of the tight group is significantly higher than that of the control group ([Formula: see text]), while the peak flexor moment is significantly lower ([Formula: see text]). The results confirm that tight gastrocnemius leads to changes in the three-dimensional hip and pelvic angles and hip moments during gait. Disturbance of the hip and pelvic movement is thus a critical clinical consideration when evaluating soft tissue injuries in patients with tight gastrocnemius.

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip Compromises Gait Balance Control in Female Juveniles With Unilateral Developmental Dysplasia Treated in Toddlerhood

“…These strategies were most likely related to the altered biomechanical conditions of the affected hip, including the changes in the shape and orientation of the femoral head and the neck-shaft angle, as well as the lines of action and lever-arm lengths of the surrounding muscles ( Rab, 1978 ; Bassett GS. et al, 1999 ; Tavares, 2004 ; Lovell et al, 2006 ; Wu et al, 2020 ). Therefore, increased between-side differences in the sagittal IA, and sagittal and frontal RCIA during DLS of level walking appeared to be a sign of AVN secondary to unilateral DDH osteotomy in juveniles, and these differences may be used for early diagnosis of AVN in children with treated unilateral DDH.…”

“…During DLS, on the other hand, the COP moved towards the leading limb during weight transfer; thus, an increased RCIA during terminal DLS of the affected limb indicated a faster weight release to the unaffected side. These changes of the COM-COP control appeared to be a compensation for residual deficits of the hip such as muscle weakness, limited range of motion and modified mechanical properties of the surgically reduced joint ( Rab, 1978 ; Bassett G. S. et al, 1999 ; Tavares, 2004 ; Lovell et al, 2006 ; Pedersen et al, 2006 ; Wu et al, 2020 ). Reduced muscle strengths have been shown to affect balance control ( Storer and Skaggs, 2006 ).…”

Assessment of Gastrocnemius Muscle Activity in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

“…Altered muscle activation pattern of lower extremity musculature such as gastrocnemius muscle which acts as a two-joint muscle for both ankle and knee joints (12) . It could disrupt normal sagittal spine-pelvis-leg alignment and alter the lumbar-pelvic rhythm (13) . This can lead to excessive lumbar tissue loading and lumbar intradiscal pressure, predisposing individuals to LBP (14) .…”

Effects of Tendon Release Surgery on Inter-Limb Leg Stiffness Control in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy during Gait

“…Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by impaired motor control on both sides of the body with shortened or improperly developed muscles, and impaired joint movement in both lower extremities [1][2][3][4][5][6]. These impairments impact directly on the body's mobility and stability throughout the gait cycle [7], not only for body-weight support during single-limb support (SLS), but also for body-weight transfer during doublelimb support (DLS). In particular, during DLS, both limbs are on the ground, forming a closed kinetic chain.…”