The FAAM is a reliable, responsive, and valid measure of physical function for individuals with a broad range of musculoskeletal disorders of the lower leg, foot, and ankle.

No abstract

For individuals in good health, the gait of older people differs from the walking pattern of young people for selected variables. Older people demonstrate less knee extension and a shorter stride length compared with younger people. Differences in self-paced walking velocity between old and young people may have influenced the gait characteristics measured.

P atellofemoral pain is a common problem which affects a large number of athletic and nonathletic people. Symptoms frequently associated with patellofem* ral problems are generalized anterior knee pain, patellofemoral joint crepitus, peripatellar swelling, and buckling or locking of the knee (30). The symptoms are often exacerbated by prolonged sitting with a bent knee, rising from a seated position, ascending and descending stairs and sloped surfaces, and kneeling (7,8).The etiology of this problem could be related to nontraumatic factors, such a 5 osseous abnormalities, muscle imbalances, laxity o r tightness of the ligaments or joint capsule, or direct traumatic injury to the joint. The focus of the present study was on nontraumatic patellofemoral joint dysfunction, specifically muscle imbalances.The biomechanics of the patellofemoral joint are controlled by its static and dynamic components. The static components include the configuration of the articular surfaces, the medial and lateral retinaculum, and the patellofemoral and patellotibial ligaments. The primary dynamic components are the four parts of the quadriceps femoris complex with accessory input from the iliotibial band (lo), the adductor magnus and Ionof patellofemoral pain are I) neurogus (3,13), the pes anserine group, muscular imbalances of the vastus and biceps femoris ( 18,29). medialis oblique (VMO) and the vasSome of the theories for the etitus lateralis (VL), 2) tightness of the ology of nontraumatic gradual onset lateral knee retinaculum, hamstrings, Imbalances in the firing pattern and contraction intensity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and the vastus lateralis (VL) have been considered important factors contributing to patellofemoral joint dysfunction. Vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis electromyographic (EMG) activity were measured for 15 individuals without patellofemoral pain (asymptomatic group) and 13 subjects with patellofemoral pain (symptomatic group) while ascending and descending steps. The peak V M O M ratios of EMG activity and the difference in peak VMO and VL onset times were measured. Two-way mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the main effects of group (asymptomatic and symptomatic), phase (concentric phase ascending and two eccentric phases descending stairs), and the interaction between group and phase. The ANOVAs indicated no difference between groups for the peak V M O M EMG ratio or for the onset timing between peak VMO and VL muscle activity. Combining groups, the peak V M O M EMG ratio was less for the eccentric weight acceptance phase of descent compared with

The purposc oftis study !a$ to investigate ths kinetic and kinernatic propcrtie of the lorrer extremity durirry the phases of the rwualkirg gait as defined by the rules and compare ttr€se to normal walki$ and ruaning Cine.matogrgphic and force plate data werc gatherEd from l0 compotitivc racoualkers underfour gail conditio$. Temporat Fram€*ert" angular displacements of the lower extremity, ground reaction forces, patb of thc center of pr€lisur€, and the joint forcs during the four gait conditions were corryrared $ing a repeatd measures analysis of variane. Racwalkcrs exhi6;1sd significanrly inrreased (P < 0.0t) mafimal ankle dorsiflexion, maximal knec extension, angular di5gacernents of the pelvis, rnedial goundtoot reaction'forces, peak plantar flexion momeat, and ertemal peak knee hyperextcnsion momert rhaa did rralking or running Based upon the results of this inr,rsiigation, it was deteflninsd that rhe git of racuratking exhibits some biom* chanical charactrri$tks,which arcdiffercnt ftom ttre gair of wdkirrS or running BTOMECTIANICS, GAIT ANALYSI$, RACEWALKING, KINETICS. KINEMATICS * oeptc,ll br n,btietln MadL rgE6.