Spatiotemporal and kinematic aspects of obstacle avoidance in subjects with Down syndrome

Obstacle avoidance studies have been extensively performed in normally developed subjects (N), but little work has been done on the characterization of this task in subjects with Down syndrome (DS). The aim of this study was to describe the management of walking with obstacle avoidance in adults with DS and in agematched N subjects, considering both the lower and upper limbs. Ten subjects with DS and 16 N subjects were evaluated. The subjects walked along a walkway in two conditions: level, unobstructed walking and walking with an obstacle. The tasks were acquired using three-dimensional quantitative movement analysis. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters for the trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the presence of a destabilizing element, the obstacle, enhanced different motor strategies in DS compared with N subjects, as shown by the parameters of the lower limbs, with a stabilization and safety strategy adopted at the upper limbs in DS

Use of surface EMG for evaluation of upper limb spasticity during botulinum toxin therapy in stroke patients

The clinical assessment of spasticity in stroke patients generally includes descriptive scales, such as the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Global Pain Scale (GPS), however these may not be sufficiently sensitive to accurately detect improvements, especially at upper limb level; electromyography (EMG) may be the answer to this clinical requirement. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BTX) in treating upper extremity spasticity in stroke patients, using clinical evaluation (MAS and GPS) and EMG. Ten patients were assessed before, 30 days and 180 days after BTX injection using clinical evaluations and EMG. At 30 days all clinical measures improved significantly. Whereas MAS scores, after recording an improvement at the first evaluation session, were worse at the second assessment, GPS scores improved over time, both at the first and at the second evaluation session. A reduction of EMG activity was found 30 days after injections, in particular at baseline and during passive flexion movement. Our results demonstrated that measurement of EMG activity may be an effective means of detecting functional improvements and of monitoring the effects of treatment in post-stroke patient

Gait analysis in anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Purpose: Anorexia (An) and bulimia nervosa (bn) are two common eating disorders, which appear to share some reduced motor capacities, such as a reduced balance. the presence and the extent of other motor disorders have not been investigated in a comprehensive way. the aim of this study was to quantify gait pattern in An and bn individuals in order to ascertain possible differences from the normality range and provide novel data for developing some evidence-based rehabilitation strategies. Methods: nineteen An patients (age 30.16+9.73) and 20 bn patients (age 26.8+8.41) were assessed with quantitative 3d computerized Gait Analysis. results were compared with a group of healthy controls (cG; 30.7+5.6). Results: An and bn patients were characterized by different gait strategies compared to cG. Spatio-temporal parameters indicated shorter step length, with An showing the shortest values. An walked slower than bn and cG. As for kinematics, An and bn showed a nonphysiologic pattern at pelvis and hip level on the sagittal and frontal plane, with bn yielding the most abnormal values. Both AN and BN patients were characterized by high ankle plantar fexion capacity at toe-off when compared to cG. As for ankle kinetics, both An and bn showed physiologic patterns. Stiffness at hip level was close to cG in both pathologic groups; at the ankle level, stiffness was signifcantly decreased in both groups, with AN displaying lower values. Conclusions: both An and bn were characterized by an altered gait pattern compared to cG. biomechanical differences were evident mainly at pelvis and hip level. Loss of lean mass may lead to musculoskeletal adaptation, ultimately causing alterations in the gait pattern. © 2013 Società Italiana Biomateriali

Gait analysis in anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Purpose: Anorexia (An) and bulimia nervosa (bn) are two common eating disorders, which appear to share some reduced motor capacities, such as a reduced balance. the presence and the extent of other motor disorders have not been investigated in a comprehensive way. the aim of this study was to quantify gait pattern in An and bn individuals in order to ascertain possible differences from the normality range and provide novel data for developing some evidence-based rehabilitation strategies. Methods: nineteen An patients (age 30.16+9.73) and 20 bn patients (age 26.8+8.41) were assessed with quantitative 3d computerized Gait Analysis. results were compared with a group of healthy controls (cG; 30.7+5.6). Results: An and bn patients were characterized by different gait strategies compared to cG. Spatio-temporal parameters indicated shorter step length, with An showing the shortest values. An walked slower than bn and cG. As for kinematics, An and bn showed a nonphysiologic pattern at pelvis and hip level on the sagittal and frontal plane, with bn yielding the most abnormal values. Both AN and BN patients were characterized by high ankle plantar fexion capacity at toe-off when compared to cG. As for ankle kinetics, both An and bn showed physiologic patterns. Stiffness at hip level was close to cG in both pathologic groups; at the ankle level, stiffness was signifcantly decreased in both groups, with AN displaying lower values. Conclusions: both An and bn were characterized by an altered gait pattern compared to cG. biomechanical differences were evident mainly at pelvis and hip level. Loss of lean mass may lead to musculoskeletal adaptation, ultimately causing alterations in the gait pattern. © 2013 Società Italiana Biomateriali