A comparison of knee joint biomechanics during free gait and cartilage T2 mapping values in healthy individuals in their twenties and forties

Abstract

Purpose: Gait metric alterations have been reported in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability (CAI). Those studies comprised relatively small cohorts and their findings were inconsistent. This study was undertaken to examine spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with CAI and examine the relationship between self-reported disease severity and the magnitude of gait abnormalities. Methods: Medical files of all patients diagnosed as having CAI and referred to a private treatment center between May 2009 and February 2012 were retrieved from the center's database and evaluated. Inclusion criteria were the reporting of recurrent ankle sprains, instability, and a tendency of the ankle to "give way" during sports activities for the past !6 months. Age and gender-matched healthy people served as controls. All participants underwent a spatiotemporal gait analysis on a computerized mat and completed the Short Form (SF)-36 health survey. Results: Of the 95 eligible patients, 44 fulfilled study entry criteria and were compared to 53 controls. The CAI patients' walking velocity was w16% slower, their cadence was w9% lower, and their step length was w7% shorter than the controls. Their base of support during walking was w43% wider and their single limb support was w12% shorter than the controls. Their SF-36 Pain and Physical Function subscales were significantly lower compared to controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results form a gait profile for patients with CAI. Significant differences with controls were found in most tested spatiotemporal gait parameters, most importantly in the base of support. These gait alterations may reflect strategies for coping with imbalance and pain. Measurements of gait parameters in combination with selfevaluation questionnaires are highly useful for assessing disease severity and for follow-up of individuals diagnosed as having CAI.

Beneficial effects of a gait used while wearing a kimono to decrease the knee adduction moment in healthy adults

“…The gait was evaluated using three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis and the kinetic and kinematic values of the gait were determined using previously reported methods [ 19 ]. The 3D trajectory data, sampled at 100 Hz, were collected using a 10-camera motion analysis system (Motive; Optitrack Japan, Tokyo Japan; Venus 3D; Nobby Tech, Tokyo, Japan) and digitally recorded.…”

“…A four-link model with four segments for the pelvis, thigh, shank (lower leg), and foot was used in the present study, as reported previously [ 19 ]. Global optimization was used to estimate the segments [ 20 ], and the model was customized to each subject using the marker data collected during each individual’s static calibration.…”