Gait & posture最新文献

{"title":"Uncovering age-related differences in foot trajectory patterns during obstacle crossing: Statistical parametric mapping approach","authors":"Yuki Suda ,&nbsp;Kentaro Kodama ,&nbsp;Yu Ozawa ,&nbsp;Ryota Sakurai","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Falls in older adults frequently occur during obstacle crossing. Recent investigations have focused on age-related differences in foot trajectory patterns throughout the swing phase of obstacle crossing. However, a standardized method for comparing these differences has not been established. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) is advantageous for comparing time-series data and may be applicable to foot trajectory data.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to elucidate age-related differences in foot trajectory patterns using SPM.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a secondary analysis of data from Sakurai et al. (2021), involving 72 older (78.04 ± 5.74 years) and 76 younger (28.36 ± 7.84 years) adults. Participants were required to walk and cross a 15 cm-high obstacle four times. The foot trajectory pattern was calculated using the toe height throughout one step (i.e., the swing phase from toe-off to heel contact) when the leading limb crossed the obstacle. The patterns were normalized based on the time required for each step. Differences in foot trajectory patterns were compared between age groups using a non-paired <em>t</em>-test SPM.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Older adults exhibited higher toe heights preceding obstacle crossing and lower toe heights before landing compared to younger adults. This indicates that age-related differences in the foot trajectory patterns occurred both before obstacle crossing and landing.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our novel approach demonstrates the utility of SPM in capturing foot trajectory patterns during obstacle crossing and provides evidence that age-related characteristics may be overlooked by confining analysis solely to the moment of obstacle crossing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 135-138"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Auditory-motor synchronization and interlimb coordination when walking to metronomes with different tempi and structures: A comparison study of children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder","authors":"Mieke Goetschalckx ,&nbsp;Peter Feys ,&nbsp;Eugene Rameckers ,&nbsp;Bart Moens ,&nbsp;Nele Vanbilsen ,&nbsp;Marc Leman ,&nbsp;Lousin Moumdjian","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.032","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting motor coordination, impacting daily-life activities like walking. Accurate sensorimotor interactions are crucial for optimal coordination. Auditory-motor synchronization paradigms allow to examine these interactions with tempo and temporal structure of auditory stimuli potentially influencing synchronization and coordination. Therefore, this study aims to investigate auditory-motor synchronization and interlimb coordination in children with DCD and typically developing children (TDC) during walking.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Research question&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;What is the impact of metronome characteristics (tempo, temporal structure) on auditory-motor synchronization, interlimb coordination and spatiotemporal variability in children with and without DCD during walking to auditory metronomes?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Twenty-one DCD and 22 TDC children walked for three minutes to auditory metronomes with different tempi and temporal structures. Synchronization, interlimb coordination and spatiotemporal variability were analyzed using mixed model analysis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;DCD presented lower synchronization consistency, inferior interlimb coordination and higher gait variability (speed, step length) across all tempi and temporal structures. At preferred tempo, both groups demonstrated best synchronization and interlimb coordination. The least synchronization and coordination were observed at lower tempo, with DCD additionally showing diminished tempo matching and increased cadence variability. Discrete structures optimized synchronization accuracy and continuous structures enhanced interlimb coordination accuracy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study highlights difficulties in auditory-motor synchronization, interlimb coordination and spatiotemporal variability in DCD during walking, which were enlarged at lower tempo. Considering various tempi and temporal structures can enrich walking assessments and protentional interventions for DCD.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;What this paper adds&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This paper contributes to the understanding of auditory-motor synchronization and interlimb coordination in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and typically developing children (TDC) during walking. This study expands previous research by exploring the impact of varied tempi and temporal structures on synchronization and interlimb coordination, which has been a relatively unexplored area in the context of DCD.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The key findings suggest that children with DCD exhibit lower synchronization consistency and interlimb coordination compared to their typically developing peers across different tempi and temporal structures. We extend previous findings of tapping literature that optimal synchronization and coordination was present at 0 % tempo. Additionally, worsened performance was found at lower audi","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 139-149"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postural alignment during unsupported walking following acquired brain injury: Application of a new measure","authors":"Jack A. Beard ,&nbsp;Gavin Williams ,&nbsp;Benjamin F. Mentiplay ,&nbsp;Simon J. Mills ,&nbsp;Michelle Kahn","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Impaired postural alignment is commonly observed following acquired brain injury (ABI), and improved postural alignment is associated with mobility recovery in the pre-ambulant phase (i.e. sitting and standing) following ABI. It is unknown whether this association exists for walking.</div></div><div><h3>Research questions</h3><div>This study aimed to; i) determine whether the postural alignment and dispersion (PAD) score, previously validated in sitting and standing, can be applied to quantify postural alignment during walking in people with ABI, and ii) whether the PAD discriminates those with slower and faster self-selected walking speed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Forty-two adults with mobility limitations following ABI, who could walk without assistance for 10 m, and 34 healthy controls (HCs) underwent three-dimensional gait analysis at their self-selected walking speed. Outcome measures were the PAD score (whole-body postural alignment), walking speed (m/s), lateral centre of mass displacement (dynamic postural control), and the Gait Profile Score (walking quality). Outcome measures were evaluated for between-group differences (<em>t</em>-tests and Cohen’s <em>d</em> effect size) and individual incidence of abnormality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Adults with ABI had significantly higher PAD scores compared to HCs (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05; ES &gt; 0.49). Within the ABI cohort, PAD scores were not significantly different at both more affected (p &gt; 0.05; ES 0.37) and less affected (p &gt; 0.05; ES 0) midstance between faster (≥ 0.8 m/s) and slower walkers (&lt; 0.8 m/s). In contrast, dynamic postural control and walking quality were significantly worse in those participants who walked slower (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01; ES &gt; 0.80). Prevalence of abnormality was low, capturing 19 % and 26 % of participants for the more affected and less affected lower limb PAD scores.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Preliminary evidence suggests postural alignment may be impaired during walking in people with ABI. The PAD did not discriminate between slower or faster walkers within the ABI cohort. Further research is required to determine the optimal method for measuring postural alignment during walking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 123-128"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining virtual reality's influence on kinetic variables for obstacle crossing in Parkinson's disease","authors":"Rezvan Bakhtiyarian ,&nbsp;Mahdi Majlesi ,&nbsp;Elaheh Azadian ,&nbsp;Makwan Jabar Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly experience postural instability during walking and obstacle crossing. Previous research has explored virtual reality (VR) as a rehabilitation tool that affects gait.</div></div><div><h3>Research Question</h3><div>How does a virtual reality environment influence the kinetic characteristics of gait during obstacle crossing in individuals with Parkinson's disease compared to real-world conditions?</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study included 15 individuals with PD and 17 matched healthy control participants. The moment and power of lower extremity joints during walking and obstacle crossing conditions in real and VR environments were measured using three-dimensional motion analysis and force platforms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results indicate that individuals with PD demonstrated higher hip extensor moments during normal gait (NG) and obstacle crossing (OBS) tasks, accompanied by lower hip flexor moments compared to the control group. Moreover, PD individuals exhibited increased internal rotation hip joint moments during VR obstacle crossing (VR-OBS) tasks compared to NG.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Walking in a VR environment altered the kinetic status in both groups, potentially due to cautious walking to maintain stability. The greatest difference between the two groups was observed in the magnitude of joint moment in the sagittal plane, likely influenced by differences in walking speed. These findings underscore the unique joint moment patterns exhibited by PD patients during various tasks. Walking in a VR environment impacts the kinetic parameters of gait, which may have implications for designing rehabilitation programs aimed at improving gait stability in PD individuals. Clinically, these kinetic alterations highlight VR’s potential as a safe modality for gait rehabilitation and fall prevention in PD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 85-92"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of tri-planar lower-limb kinematics and the association with tibial torsion in back-carried children. A statistical parametric mapping approach","authors":"Mariaan van Aswegen ,&nbsp;Stanisław H. Czyż ,&nbsp;Sarah J. Moss ,&nbsp;Mark Kramer","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Lower-limb kinematic and temporospatial differences between back-carried (BC) and non-back-carried (NBC) children are expected based on previous static lower-limb relationships reported in BC children. Back-carrying of children is common among South Africans and becoming popular among Westerners. Establishing the potential effects of back-carrying on lower-limb development and gait is therefore important.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>Does BC influence the tri-planar instantaneous lower-limb kinematics and temporospatial parameters of the full gait cycle in children, and is there an association between static tibial torsion and the lower-limb gait kinematics?</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twelve NBC (age = 8.00 ± 0.95 years) and 12 BC (age = 8.08 ± 0.79 years) children were selected. Tri-planar kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle were captured during gait using an eight-camera motion analysis system and Visual3D software to extract the kinematic data. All static tibial torsion were measured goniometrically. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to compare joint kinematics during the gait cycle and the association of tibial torsion throughout the gait cycle.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>SPM revealed significant differences between BC and NBC participants in hip kinematics (mean difference = 2.49°, p = 0.016) at 52–66 % of the gait cycle and knee joint kinematics (mean difference = 3.00°, p = 0.026) at 34–41 % of the gait cycle. Temporospatial differences were non-significant for speed, stride length, stance time, and stride width (p = 0.80, g_Hedges = 0.10). Significant correlations were evident between static tibial torsion and joint kinematics for the knee (r = -0.44 to −0.69, p = 0.041) for BC children and for the ankle (r = 0.74–0.75, p = 0.025) in NBC children. Larger internal tibial torsion is associated with more in-toeing and internal knee rotation during the swing phase in back-carried children.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>A discrete comparison of kinematics in BC versus NBC children did not yield significant differences, while differences were observed using the SPM. The observed differences are likely of limited clinical importance, implying that caregivers can continue to BC their children.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 115-122"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143917564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validation of a video-based pose estimation algorithm for the assessment of balance error scoring system in single limb stance test","authors":"Yu Yuan Lee,&nbsp;Lena Fennen,&nbsp;Rosemary Dubbeldam","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Single Limb Stance Test (SLST) is a reliable and validated test to estimate balance performance. However, assessment of the SLST performance, e.g. by using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), can be time-consuming and subjective. To deliver effective balance interventions, a reliable and accessible balance assessment method is imperative.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>Can video-based pose estimation be effectively utilized to validate the BESS assessment for SLST, as compared to both human observation and marker-based assessment methods?</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>60-second eyes-closed SLST trials were recorded using an iPad camera and a marker-based motion capture system. Mediapipe was applied to estimate the whole-body kinematics from the video recordings. The kinematic data were processed by threshold-based error detection algorithms to calculate the corresponding BESS total and sub-scores. To validate the video-based BESS assessment, the results were compared to human and marker-based motion capture system BESS assessments using repeated measures ANOVA and correlation coefficients (CC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There was no significant difference in the BESS total score between the assessment methods and the correlation between assessment methods was good with CC’s ranging from 0.69 to 0.77. However, a significant difference in BESS forefoot and heel lifting sub-scores between the video-based and the human or marker-based assessments was found because Mediapipe failed to capture the detail of the foot motion.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Video-based pose estimation is a reliable and accessible method to assess SLST performance. It can be used to examine and speed up SLST assessment using the BESS total score. However, future research and development in capturing foot motion is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 64-69"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143895829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of hip joint mechanics during walking in people with Marfan syndrome","authors":"Mariana V. Jacobs ,&nbsp;Justin M. Pol ,&nbsp;Aaron D. Fain ,&nbsp;Jody L. Clasey ,&nbsp;Brecca M.M. Gaffney ,&nbsp;Christopher J. McLouth ,&nbsp;Mary B. Sheppard ,&nbsp;Michael A. Samaan","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder and is associated with muscle dysfunction. Individuals with MFS exhibit quadriceps weakness, hip joint pain, and an increased incidence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) compared to the general population, yet the underlying biomechanical factors associated with these poor hip-related outcomes are not well understood.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of MFS on gait mechanics and to determine the relationship of gait mechanics with hip-related outcomes within the MFS group. Methods: Eighteen people with MFS and 18 healthy, asymptomatic controls underwent 3D gait analysis. All study participants completed the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Survey (HOOS) to obtain patient reported outcomes. (PROs). Between group differences in demographics, HOOS scores, and gait mechanics were analyzed via independent t-tests, a Kruskal-Wallis test, and a multi variate analysis of covariance while adjusting for age, respectively. A Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to assess the relationship between HOOS sub-scores and kinetic and kinematic parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The MFS cohort was significantly older than the control cohort and ambulated with altered sagittal plane pelvis, knee and ankle kinematics as well as ankle kinetics. The MFS cohort ambulated with a higher hip transverse plane range of motion, hip extensor moment impulse (HEMI), peak hip abduction moments and hip abduction moment impulse. The MFS group also exhibited a higher hip internal rotation moment (HIRM) compared to the control group. The MFS cohort also self-reported worse hip-related PRO. Higher HIRM and HEMI were associated with worse hip-related pain and QOL within the MFS group.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>These results suggest that people with MFS walk with altered pelvic and lower extremity joint mechanics which may be associated with the higher incidence rates of hip OA and poor hip-related PRO observed in the MFS population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 78-84"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143907555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minimum Toe Clearance Variability in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Differences to Healthy Controls and Effects of a Dance Intervention","authors":"Berit K. Labott ,&nbsp;Fabian Herold ,&nbsp;Corinna Langhans ,&nbsp;Nicole Halfpaap ,&nbsp;Bernhard Grässler ,&nbsp;Anita Hökelmann ,&nbsp;Notger G. Müller ,&nbsp;Daniel Hamacher","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are a major health issue. For healthy individuals, higher variability in minimum toe clearance (MTC) during gait is associated with the risk of tripping-related falls and dance intervention reduces MTC variability. Such empirical evidence is lacking for individuals with MCI.</div></div><div><h3>Research Question</h3><div>We aimed to assess differences in MTC variability between healthy older adults and older adults with MCI. Furthermore, we analysed the effects of a six-month dance intervention on MTC variability in older adults with MCI.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We recruited community-dwelling cognitively healthy control participants (n=34) and participants with MCI (n=55). All participants underwent gait assessment using inertial sensors. In a cohort study, MTC variability of healthy vs. MCI participants was compared using Welch’s t-test. There were no significant differences in the participant’s characteristics except for cognitive performance. In a randomised controlled trial, participants with MCI were randomly allocated to either an intervention (IG, n=27) or a passive control group (CG, n=28). IG was required to attend a twice-weekly 90-minute dance program for six months. After six months, the gait assessment was repeated in both groups of MCI participants, and the effect of the dance intervention on MTC variability was assessed using 2-level random intercept models. Additionally, the mean MTC was analysed in a secondary analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Adults with MCI exhibited a significantly higher MTC variability compared to healthy adults (p=.016, d=0.53), but no difference was found in the mean MTC (p=.980, d&lt;0.01). The dance intervention did not improve either MTC variability (p=.182) or mean MTC (p=.742).</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The higher MTC variability in older adults with MCI compared to healthy controls may contribute to their higher fall risk. Future studies should investigate the effects of an individually tailored dance intervention, and other intervention approaches on MTC variability and fall risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143917707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of systematic displacement of the lateral knee marker on gait kinematics using the virtual knee alignment device and the Plug-in Gait model","authors":"Lisa Schneemann ,&nbsp;Dagmar Linnhoff ,&nbsp;Bettina Wollesen ,&nbsp;Klaus Mattes ,&nbsp;Inke Marie Albertsen","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Marker-based motion capture is widely used in clinical gait analysis, but errors due to incorrect marker placement can impact kinematic results. When using the Plug-in Gait model (PiG, Vicon, Oxford, UK) the virtual Knee Alignment Device (vKAD, Prophysics, Kloten, Switzerland) is designed to automatically correct marker displacements on the lateral shank and femur. However, the impact of lateral knee marker displacement on gait kinematics using vKAD has not been studied.</div></div><div><h3>Research question</h3><div>Does systematic lateral knee marker displacement have a significant effect on the maximum angles of the knee (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and hip joint (transverse) during swing phase when using PiG and vKAD?</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twelve healthy adults (27.9 ± 7 years, 173.1 ± 9 cm, 68.9 ± 7 kg) underwent gait analysis using PiG and vKAD in five marker placement conditions of the lateral knee marker on both legs. Conditions included the correct anatomical position (reference) and systematic displacements of 1 cm and 2 cm anterior/posterior to the reference. A two-way repeated ANOVA compared maximum joint angles of the knee (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and hip (transverse) during the swing phase between conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All selected joint angles were significantly affected by the marker placement conditions. A 2 cm displacement to the reference position resulted in the following kinematic deviations: hip internal rotation 7°/-11°, knee flexion 2°/-4°, knee varus/adduction 7°/-8°, and knee internal rotation 1°/-4°.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Even a 1 cm anterior displacement of the lateral knee marker led to an unphysiological knee varus range of motion in the swing phase, overestimation hip internal rotation. These findings have practical implications for researchers and clinicians as they can serve to optimize the knee joint axis and enhancing accuracy of instrumental gait analysis. Improved accuracy, particularly in hip rotation, is crucial for clinicans working with patients like those with cerebral palsy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 129-134"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The positional effects of weight-bearing foot and ankle musculature on muscle stiffness using shear wave elastography","authors":"Jesus Arellano,&nbsp;Olivia Wulbert,&nbsp;Amber Schwarting,&nbsp;Abbis Jaffri","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.04.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Shear wave elastography (SWE), an ultrasound imaging method, assesses muscle tissue stiffness by measuring the speed of sound waves traveling through it, with faster speeds indicating greater stiffness. It is unclear whether differences in foot and ankle muscle stiffness depend on changes in loading volume. The purpose of this study is to assess stiffness changes of foot and ankle muscles between non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing positions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty individuals (38F, age: 23.4 ± 3.20 yrs., weight: 74.9 ± 19.7 kg, height: 170.0 ± 8.70 cm) participated in this study. SWE measures were performed using an ultrasound scanner. Shear wave elastography mean velocity (m/s) values were recorded for the tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, peroneal, and abductor hallucis muscles in both non-weight-bearing (sitting) and weight-bearing (standing) positions. Paired <em>t</em>-test was performed to analyze differences in muscle stiffness.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>A significant difference in muscle stiffness between non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing positions was found for tibialis posterior (p &lt; 0.01, effect size (ES) = -0.97) and abductor hallucis (p &lt; 0.01, ES = -1.08). No significant differences existed between positions for tibialis anterior (p = 0.43, ES = 0.12) and peroneal muscles (p = 0.13, ES = -0.16).</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>Abductor hallucis and tibialis posterior muscles of the foot and ankle demonstrate significant increases in stiffness from a non-weight-bearing to weight-bearing task. Muscle stiffness of tibialis anterior and peroneal muscles is not dependent on these positions. Abductor hallucis and tibialis posterior may contribute to cushioning and support for the foot and ankle during weight-bearing tasks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"121 ","pages":"Pages 108-114"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143917708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}