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BACKGROUND: The gait modification strategies Trunk Lean and Medial Thrust have been shown to reduce the external knee adduction moment (EKAM) in patients with knee osteoarthritis which could contribute to reduced progression of the disease. Which strategy is most optimal differs between individuals, but the underlying mechanism that causes this remains unknown. RESEARCH QUESTION: Which gait parameters determine the optimal gait modification strategy for individual patients with knee osteoarthritis? METHODS: Forty-seven participants with symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis underwent 3-dimensional motion analysis during comfortable gait and with two gait modification strategies: Medial Thrust and Trunk Lean. Kinematic and kinetic variables were calculated. Participants were then categorized into one of the two subgroups, based on the modification strategy that reduced the EKAM the most for them. Multiple logistic regression analysis with backward elimination was used to investigate the predictive nature of dynamic parameters obtained during comfortable walking on the optimal modification gait strategy. RESULTS: For 68.1 % of the participants, Trunk Lean was the optimal strategy in reducing the EKAM. Baseline characteristics, kinematics and kinetics did not differ significantly between subgroups during comfortable walking. Changes to frontal trunk and tibia angles correlated significantly with EKAM reduction during the Trunk Lean and Medial Thrust strategies, respectively. Regression analysis showed that MT is likely optimal when the frontal tibia angle range of motion and peak knee flexion angle in early stance during comfortable walking are high (R2Nagelkerke = 0.12). SIGNIFICANCE: Our regression model based solely on kinematic parameters from comfortable walking contained characteristics of the frontal tibia angle and knee flexion angle. As the model explains only 12.3 % of variance, clinical application does not seem feasible. Direct assessment of kinetics seems to be the most optimal strategy for selecting the most optimal gait modification strategy for individual patients with knee osteoarthritis. ispartof: GAIT & POSTURE vol:102 pages:1-9 ispartof: location:England status: published

To examine the isolated and combined effects of sex and perceptual-motor function on single-leg squatting mechanics in males and females. We employed a cross-sectional design in a research laboratory. Fifty-eight females (22.2 ± 3.5 yrs, 1.60 ± .07 m, 64.1 ± 13.0 kg) and 35 males (23.5 ± 5.0 yrs, 1.80 ± .06m, 84.7 ± 15.3 kg) free from time-loss injury in the six months prior, vertigo, and vestibular conditions participated in this study. Independent variables were sex, perceptual-motor metrics (reaction time, efficiency index, conflict discrepancy), and interaction effects. Dependent variables were peak frontal plane angles of knee projection, ipsilateral trunk flexion, and contralateral pelvic drop during single-leg squatting. After accounting for the sex-specific variance and perceptual-motor function effects on frontal plane squatting kinematics, female sex amplified the associations of: higher reaction time, lower efficiency index, and higher conflict discrepancy with greater right ipsilateral peak trunk lean (R2 = .13; p = .05); higher reaction time, lower efficiency index, and higher conflict discrepancy with decreased right contralateral pelvic drop (R2 = .22; p < .001); higher reaction time and lower conflict discrepancy with greater right frontal plane knee projection angle (R2 = .12; p = .03); and higher reaction time with greater left frontal plane knee projection angle (R2 = .22; p < .001). Female sex amplified the relationship between perceptual-motor function and two-dimensional frontal plane squatting kinematics. Future work should determine the extent to which perceptual-motor improvements translate to safer movement strategies.

Imagine a world where no injuries occurred, muscular compensation was able to be detected early on and imbalances resolved before any risks appear. Muscular compensation can cause injuries, especially with repetitive motion or through activities of daily living. The study I conducted focuses on the compensation methods of shoulder abduction and trunk lean during the FIT-HaNSA series. Determining the normative ranges of motion can increase early detection of fatigue for all individuals. This can help make repetitive jobs such as working in a factory much safer for all employees, as they can switch tasks as soon as fatigue is identified. Additionally, by utilizing motion capture during the series it can assist individuals healing from upper extremity injuries. Overall, the utilization of motion capture during the FIT-HaNSA series can truly make a major impact in the population for workplace injuries as well as injury recovery and prevention.

Einleitung: Insuffiziente Hüftabduktoren und fehlende motorische Kontrolle sind kritische Risikofaktoren von Hüftarthrose, welche zu Hinkmechanismen wie Trendelnburg- oder Duchene-Hinken führen können. Der motorische Lernprozess kann dabei durch technisch gestütztes visuelles Echtzeit-Feedback erfolgreich ergänzt werden. Untersuchungen zur Auswirkung von visuellem Echtzeit-Feedback auf frontalen Gangparametern ist dabei jedoch noch weitgehend unerforscht. Ziel: Die Entwicklung von Prototypen für visuelles Echtzeit-Feedback sollte konzeptioniert und realisiert werden. Diese werden durch gesunden Anwender*innen validiert, um herauszufinden, wie sich unterschiedliche Darbietungen von visuellem Feedback auf Pelvic Drop und Trunk Lean in der Frontalebene während einer Bewegungsübung auswirken. Methoden: Es wurden fünf Feedbackdarstellungen zu Pelvic Drop und vier Trunk Lean als erste Prototypen erstellt. Im Rahmen einer Mock-up Testung werden diese im Ganglabor von drei gesunden Expert*innen mit unterschiedlichen Expertisen anhand eines strukturierten Interviews und einem Usability-Fragebogen evaluiert. Während der Testung sollte der Einbeinstand für Pelvic Drop und die Seitbeuge für die Trunk Lean durchgeführt werden. Mithilfe eines Motion Capturing Systems werden Bewegungen durch Marker erfasst und verarbeitet und das Feedback auf einer Leinwand projiziert. Ergebnisse: Die „horizontale Bar“ war bei Pelvic Drop der Favorit und konnte mit guter Sensitivität, adäquate Amplitude, nicht wertender Farbgebung und minimalistischem Design überzeugen. Für die Trunk Lean wurde das „Bodymodel“ als passendste Variante gewählt, welche mit genauer Bewegungserfassung, gutem Handling und dem einfachen Transfer auf den eigenen Körper positiv hervorstach. Die „Ampel“ wurde für beide Gangparameter als unzureichende Variante beschrieben. Diskussion: Visuelles Echtzeit-Feedback ist eine vielversprechende Unterstützung zur Wiedererlernen des physiologischen Gangbildes. Limitationen der Applikation sind die fehlende Kalibration und die unzureichende Bewegungsunterscheidung von Pelvic Drop und Trunk Lean. Manche Ansichten der befragten Experten*innen waren kontrovers, was durch die unterschiedlichen beruflichen Hintergründe zu erklären wären. Die erhobenen Daten können in zukünftigen Projekten als Vorlage und Hilfestellung im Arbeitsprozess für weitere Applikationen dienen. Introduction: Insufficient hip abductors and lack of motor control are critical risk factors of hip osteoarthritis, which can lead to limp mechanisms. In this context, the motor learning process can be successfully supplemented by real-time visual feedback. However, studies on the effects of real-time visual feedback on frontal gait parameters are still largely unexplored. Aim: The development of prototypes for real-time visual feedback should be conceptualized and designed. These will be validated by healthy users to find out how different presentations of visual feedback affect pelvic drop and trunk lean in the frontal plane during a movement exercise. Methods: Five feedback presentations on pelvic drop and four trunk lean were created. During a mock-up testing these will be evaluated in the gait lab by three healthy experts with different expertise using a structured interview and a usability questionnaire. During the testing, the single leg stand for pelvic drop and the side bend for trunk lean should be performed. Using a motion capturing system, movements are captured and processed through markers. Results: The "horizontal bar" was the favorite for pelvic drop. Key points were the good sensitivity, adequate amplitude, non-judgmental color scheme and minimalist design. For trunk lean, the "Bodymodel" was chosen as the most suitable version, which stood out positively with accurate motion detection, good handling and easy transfer to the user's own body movement. The "traffic light" was described as an insufficient variant for both gait parameters. Discussion: Visual real-time feedback is a promising support for relearning the physiological gait pattern. Limitations of the application are the lack of calibration and the insufficient motion discrimination of pelvic drop and trunk lean. Some views of the interviewed experts were controversial, which could be explained by the different professional backgrounds. The collected data can support the optimization process for further applications.