Relationships between movements of the lower limb joints and the pelvis in open and closed kinematic chains during a gait cycle

Abstract

Lots of athletic skills performed during practice or competition are initiated by the legs, where athletes either walk or run prior to executing specific skills. Kinematic chains are used to describe the relationships between body segments and joints during movement. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between movements of lower limb segments and the pelvis in open and closed kinematic chains while walking. The experimental group consisted of 32 males (age 23.3 ± 2.5 years, body mass 78.1 ± 8.7 kg, body height 182 ± 6 cm). For 3D analysis, an optoelectronic system Vicon MX (7 cameras, frequency 200 Hz) was used. Positioning of the segments was determined by the PlugInGait Model. Each participant executed five trials at speeds ranging from 1.38 to 1.52 m·s-1. The relationships between angle variables of the lower limbs and the pelvis in selected gait cycle phases were evaluated using STATISTICA software (version 10.0) and the Spearman correlation. The highest numbers of moderate and large correlations were found at opposite toe off, heel rise and initial contact for the sagittal and transversal planes in comparison to the frontal plane. The closed kinematic chain had a stronger impact on determining the movement pattern. The instructions or interventions focusing on closed kinematic chain alternation are more effective for changes in a movement pattern. The preferred limb initiates kinematics in the direction of propulsion, while the non-preferred limb in internal and external rotation.

Repeatability of the three dimensional kinematics of the pelvis, spine and lower limbs while performing selected exercises

“…Previously, the parameters of the lower limbs and pelvis were correlated between kinematic chains during gait [24]. Our study shows that open kinematic chains have higher repeatability of movement, probably because the main part of the motion occurred in this chain.…”

The effect of modelling parameters in the development and validation of knee joint models on ligament mechanics: A systematic review

“…This indicates that joint load distribution during closed-chain activities, such as the stance-phase of walking, is more sensitive to various patient-specific parameters [ 62 , 63 ]. In contrast, open-chain activities such as the swing phase of walking allow relaxation of the surrounding soft tissues and the joint mechanical behaviour relies more on any external forces and moments for passive motion [ 64 ] or momentum in active motion [ 65 ].…”

Sex-dependent differences in single-leg squat kinematics and their relationship to squat depth in physically active individuals

“…The angles were calculated using the Euler angle method in a flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and internal/external rotation sequence. Positive values mean: (1) for the spine : flexion, lateral flexion towards the stance leg, rotation to the side opposite to the stance leg; (2) for the pelvis : anterior tilt, obliquity towards the stance leg, rotation to the side opposite to the stance leg; (3) for the hip : flexion, adduction and external rotation; (4) for the knee : flexion, varus (outward bend) and internal rotation; (5) for the ankle : dorsiflexion, inversion and internal rotation 29 . Squat depth was defined as the difference in S2 marker height (second sacral spine process) according to the following equation: -squat depth, -the highest position of S2 marker, -the lowest position of S2 marker.…”