Gait analysis methods in rehabilitation

Introduction: Brand's four reasons for clinical tests and his analysis of the characteristics of valid biomechanical tests for use in orthopaedics are taken as a basis for determining what methodologies are required for gait analysis in a clinical rehabilitation context. Measurement methods in clinical gait analysis: The state of the art of optical systems capable of measuring the positions of retro-reflective markers placed on the skin is sufficiently advanced that they are probably no longer a significant source of error in clinical gait analysis. Determining the anthropometry of the subject and compensating for soft tissue movement in relation to the under-lying bones are now the principal problems. Techniques for using functional tests to determine joint centres and axes of rotation are starting to be used successfully. Probably the last great challenge for optical systems is in using computational techniques to compensate for soft tissue measurements. In the long term future it is possible that direct imaging of bones and joints in three dimensions (using MRI or fluoroscopy) may replace marker based systems. Methods for interpreting gait analysis data: There is still not an accepted general theory of why we walk the way we do. In the absence of this, many explanations of walking address the mechanisms by which specific movements are achieved by particular muscles. A whole new methodology is developing to determine the functions of individual muscles. This needs further development and validation. A particular requirement is for subject specific models incorporating 3-dimensional imaging data of the musculo-skeletal anatomy with kinematic and kinetic data. Methods for understanding the effects of intervention: Clinical gait analysis is extremely limited if it does not allow clinicians to choose between alternative possible interventions or to predict outcomes. This can be achieved either by rigorously planned clinical trials or using theoretical models. The evidence base is generally poor partly because of the limited number of prospective clinical trials that have been completed and more such studies are essential. Very recent work has started to show the potential of using models of the mechanisms by which people with pathology walk in order to simulate different potential interventions. The development of these models offers considerable promise for new clinical applications of gait analysis

Effect of a rigid ankle-foot orthosis on hamstring length in children with hemiplagia

Eighteen children with hemiplegia, mean age 8 years 5 months, underwent gait analysis and musculoskeletal modelling using specially designed software. The maximum lengths of the hamstrings were determined for each child walking in and out of an ankle–foot orthosis (AFO). The muscles were deemed to be short if shorter than the normal average – 1SD. In bare feet 8 participants had short medial hamstrings with a higher proportion of these in the less involved individuals. All participants showed an increase in maximum hamstring length when wearing an AFO. In all but one child this was sufficient to restore hamstring length to within normal limits. These finding suggest that hamstring pathology in hemiplegic gait is usually secondary to more distal lower limb pathology

Fetal-derived trophoblast use the apoptotic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand to induce smooth muscle cell death.

Remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries during pregnancy transforms them from high to low resistance vessels that lack vasoconstrictive properties. This process is essential to meet the demand for increased blood flow imposed by the growing fetus. Loss of endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMC) is evident in remodeled arteries but the mechanisms underlying this transformation remain unknown. This study investigated the hypothesis that fetal trophoblast invading from the placenta instigate remodeling by triggering cell death in vascular SMC. Specifically, a role for trophoblast-derived death inducing cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was investigated. Expression of the activating TRAIL receptors R1 and R2 was detected by flow cytometry on human aortic SMC and by immunohistochemistry on spiral artery SMC. Recombinant human TRAIL induced human aortic SMC apoptosis, which was inhibited by antibodies against TRAIL-R1 or -R2. Perfusion of denuded spiral artery segments with recombinant human TRAIL also induced SMC apoptosis. Trophoblasts isolated from first trimester placenta expressed membrane-associated TRAIL and induced apoptosis of human aortic SMC; apoptosis was significantly inhibited by a recombinant human TRAIL-R1:Fc construct. Trophoblast within the first trimester placental bed also expressed TRAIL. These data show that: 1) TRAIL causes SMC death; 2) trophoblast produce the apoptotic cytokine TRAIL; and 3) trophoblast induce SMC apoptosis via a TRAIL-dependent mechanism. We conclude that TRAIL produced by trophoblast causes apoptosis of SMC and thus may contribute to SMC loss during spiral artery remodeling in pregnancy

Is there a minimum complexity required for the biomechanical modelling of running?

Mathematical models have the potential to provide insight into human running. Existing models can be categorised as either simple or complex, and there appears to be a lack of natural progression in model development. By sequentially adding complexity, there is the potential to determine how different mechanical components contribute to the biomechanics of running. In this study, a series of four models, of increasing complexity were developed in OpenSim: a simple spring-mass model, a two-segment model with a torsional spring at the knee and two three-segment models, one with a sprung knee and ankle and another with a sprung knee and actuated ankle. For each model, a forward simulation was developed and model predictions compared with experimental data from 10 forefoot runners. The results showed the spring-mass model overestimated the vertical displacement of the centre of mass (percentage difference: 43.6(22.4)-67.7(21.7)%) and underestimated the vertical ground reaction force (percentage difference: 13.7(8.9)-34.4(10.9)%) compared to the experimental data. Adding a spring at the knee increased the match with the vertical centre of mass displacement (percentage difference: 4.4(25.2)-18.4(40.2)%), however, geometry restrictions meant it was only possible to model approximately 60% of stance. The passive three-segment model showed a good match with centre of mass movements across most of stance (percentage difference in the vertical centre of mass displacement: 4.3(24.5)-21.3(19.2)%), however, actuation at the ankle was required to obtain a closer match with experimental kinetics and joint trajectories (e.g. vertical ground reaction force RMSD decreased by approximately 0.4BW). This is the first study to investigate models of increasing complexity of distance running. The results show that agreement between experimental data and model simulations improves as complexity increases and this provides useful insight into the mechanics of human running

Comprehensive non-dimensional normalization of gait data

Normalizing clinical gait analysis data is required to remove variability due to physical characteristics such as leg length and weight. This is particularly important for children where both are associated with age. In most clinical centres conventional normalization (by mass only) is used whereas there is a stronger biomechanical argument for non-dimensional normalization. This study used data from 82 typically developing children to compare how the two schemes performed over a wide range of temporal-spatial and kinetic parameters by calculating the coefficients of determination with leg length, weight and height. 81% of the conventionally normalized parameters had a coefficient of determination above the threshold for a statistical association (p < 0.05) compared to 23% of those normalized nondimensionally. All the conventionally normalized parameters exceeding this threshold showed a reduced association with non-dimensional normalization. In conclusion, non-dimensional normalization is more effective that conventional normalization in reducing the effects of height, weight and age in a comprehensive range of temporal-spatial and kinetic parameters

Comparative cytogenetic analysis between Lonchorhina aurita and Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae)

Phyllostomidae comprises the most diverse family of neotropical bats, its wide range of morphological features leading to uncertainty regarding phylogenetic relationships. Seeing that cytogenetics is one of the fields capable of providing support for currently adopted classifications through the use of several markers, a comparative analysis between two Phyllostomidae species was undertaken in the present study, with a view to supplying datasets for the further establishment of Phyllostomidae evolutionary relationships. Karyotypes of Lonchorhina aurita (2n = 32; FN = 60) and Trachops cirrhosus (2n = 30; FN = 56) were analyzed by G- and C-banding, silver nitrate staining (Ag-NOR) and base-specific fluorochromes. Chromosomal data obtained for both species are in agreement with those previously described, except for X chromosome morphology in T. cirrhosus, hence indicating chromosomal geographical variation in this species. A comparison of G-banding permitted the identification of homeologies in nearly all the chromosomes. Furthermore, C-banding and Ag-NOR patterns were comparable to what has already been observed in the family. In both species CMA3 /DA/DAPI staining revealed an R-banding-like pattern with CMA 3 , whereas DAPI showed uniform staining in all the chromosomes. Fluorochrome staining patterns for pericentromeric constitutive heterochromatin (CH) regions, as well as for nucleolar organizing regions (NORs), indicated heterogeneity regarding these sequences among Phyllostomidae species

Proximal placement of lateral thigh skin markers reduces soft tissue artefact during normal gait using the Conventional Gait Model

A primary source of measurement error in gait analysis is soft tissue artefact. Hip and knee angle measurements, used regularly to guide clinical decisions, are particularly affected due to pervasive soft tissue on the femur. However, despite several studies of thigh marker artefact it remains unclear how lateral thigh marker height affects results using the popular Plug-in Gait model. We compared Plug-in Gait hip and knee joint angles for ten healthy subjects estimated using a proximal- and distal-third thigh marker placement and found significant differences. Relative to the distal marker, the proximal marker produced 37% less varus-valgus range and 50% less hip rotation range, suggesting that it produced less soft-tissue artefact in knee axis estimates. Knee flexion was also significantly affected due to knee centre displacement. Based on an analysis of the Plug-in Gait knee axis definition and two different numerical optimization of the thigh rotation offset parameter, we show that the proximal marker reduced sensitivity to soft-tissue artefact by decreasing collinearity between the points defining the femoral frontal plane and reducing anteroposterior movement between the knee and thigh markers. This study demonstrates that Plug-in Gait thigh marker height can have a considerable influence on outcomes used for clinical decision-making