Development of Simplified Gait Analysis System

Advisor: Professor Allen H. Hoffman

Student: Rosanna Catricala

Background: Stair ascent and descent is challenging for persons with a lower limb prosthesis. Below the knee amputations, particularly transtibular amputations are reasonably common and result in the use of a lower extremity prosthesis that restricts flexion in the ankle region. There have been a limited number of prior studies of stair ambulation by unilateral transtibial amputees. A goal of this research was to conduct a case/control study of the effect of restricted ankle motion on stair ambulation by normal subjects. A second goal was to develop a simplified gait analysis system.

Designs/Solutions: In order to accomplish these goals, research was conducted over the course of two years by a graduate mechanical engineering student for completion of her thesis. An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) was used to restrict flexion in the left ankle of five normal female subjects. Each subject completed three trials under each of the following four conditions: normal stair ascent, normal stair descent, stair ascent with and AFO and stair descent with an AFO.

The gait analysis system that was used for the trials comprised of three different joint goniometers and footswitches. A goniometer was placed on the lateral side of each knee and hip, and over the ankle. All three types of goniometers used a parallelogram linkage to measure joint angles. Potentiometers were used to record the data.

Results showed that there were significant changes in joint angles with and without the use of the AFO. In stair ascent for the foot with the AFO, the (left) hip was affected the most. This was seen by an increase in hip joint flexion, range of motion, and maximum angular velocity for both stance and swing phases in stair ascent with an AFO. The left knee was also affected with an increase in joint flexion, increase in range of motion, and an increase in angular velocity during swing phase of stair ascent with an AFO. For the foot without the AFO, the (right) knee exhibited an increase in extension but a decrease in flexion and no increase in range of motion. The right knee also displayed an increase in maximum stance angular velocity. There was an increase in plantar flexion of the right ankle, but no change in angular velocity

For stair descent, the AFO on the left foot caused an increase in flexion in the left hip, and a decrease in flexion in the right knee. The only increase in extension for stair descent is seen in the right knee. There was a decrease in plantar flexion and increase in dorsiflexion for the right ankle. An increase in the range of motion was seen in the left hip and right knee. There was an increase in maximum stance angular velocity for the left hip, right hip and right knee. There was an increase in maximum swing angular velocity for the left hip and right hip, and a decrease in the left knee and right ankle.

Currently, another graduate student is continuing research in the gait analysis field by gathering data to find the correlation between pressure on the sole of the foot and the use of AFOs to restrict ankle flexion during stair ascent and descent.

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Last modified: Mar 03, 2004, 13:48 EST