Implications of Arm Restraint on Lower Extremity Kinetics During Gait

Abstract

Background: Literature indicates the importance of the upper extremities in providing stability and propulsion for the body during ambulation. However, the kinetic implications of upper extremity restraint during gait are not as well documented. Aim: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of arm restraint (unilateral and bilateral) on lower extremity joint kinetics during walking. Methods: Twenty-three healthy young participants were instrumented for three dimensional motion analysis, and tested in four randomly ordered upper extremity restraint conditions (unrestrained, bilateral restraint, right side restraint, and left side restraint). Temporal spatial parameters and gait/ phase-specific lower extremity kinetics and kinematics were measured. For each restraint condition, pointwise differences from the unrestrained condition were compared using a two-way ANOVA model of restraint condition ("Condition") and gait cycle phase ("Timing"). Results: Decreases in walking speed and stride length were observed for all restraint conditions. Differences in kinetic demands were also noted, primarily at the hip and knee. Conclusion: Upper extremity restraint in healthy young adults leads to significant changes in temporalspatial parameters and proximal joint kinetics, most prominently during periods of load accommodation and balance.

Gait-Assist Wearable Robot Using Interactive Rhythmic Stimulation to the Upper Limbs

“…Although this decrease in the hip-swing period is small, the result indicates that interactive rhythmic stimulation to the upper limbs at an optimal arm-swing position can increase the arm-swing activity. Because it has been reported in previous studies that an increase in arm-swing activity increases the gait speed (Eke-Okoro et al, 1997;Marks, 1997;Long et al, 2011), the results indicate the possibility that interactive rhythmic stimulation to the upper limbs could increase the gait speed with these healthy elderly subjects due to an increase in armswing activity, particularly at a 40% lag time. Moreover, it has been reported in a previous study that postural changes of the upper limb affect the reflex transmission of the lower limbs, which is maximal when the upper limb is at an angle of 45 • with respect to the frontal plane (Delwaide et al, 1977).…”

Examination of body static rotation related to step length asymmetry: biomechanics of the thorax and pelvis

“…Moreover, a coordinated pattern between the pelvis and thorax is observed in running as well as gait movements 6 ) . Furthermore, walking with an immobilized upper limb decreases the step length and increases the vertical ground reaction force moment 7 , 8 ) , suggesting that the movement of the upper body (thorax) also influences gait ability.…”