Document Detail


Redistribution of joint moments during walking in patients with drop-foot.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20655642     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to analyze the distribution of net joint moments in the lower extremities in patients walking with a drop-foot compared to a group of healthy subjects. A drop-foot causes the patient to walk with a characteristic limp and it was hypothesized that the drop-foot could lead to increased loadings of one or more joints.
METHODS: Six patients and fourteen healthy subjects walked at a fixed speed over two recessed force platforms while the movements were recorded by six infrared cameras. Net joint moments were calculated by inverse dynamics.
FINDINGS: The patients showed an almost doubled peak knee extensor moment during the stance phase compared to healthy subjects. This was accompanied by an increased knee joint flexion. The increased extensor moment about the knee joint was found in both the affected and unaffected leg of the patients. This was accompanied by increased maximal knee joint flexion in both legs of the patients compared to the healthy subjects. Several additional differences were observed in joint moments and joint angles between the two groups and between the two legs of the patients.
INTERPRETATION: The increased knee joint extensor moment leads to increased joint loading, which potentially may lead to development of osteo-arthritis over the years. It is recommended that patients with a drop-foot are offered an ankle joint orthosis in an attempt to restore normal function of the ankle joint, which will most likely reduce the knee joint loadings.
Authors:
Erik B Simonsen; Lene M Moesby; Lasse D Hansen; Jonathan Comins; Tine Alkjaer
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-07-23
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)     Volume:  25     ISSN:  1879-1271     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)     Publication Date:  2010 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-10-04     Completed Date:  2011-02-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8611877     Medline TA:  Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  949-52     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Division of Biomechanics, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3 c, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. eksn@sund.ku.dk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Ankle Joint / physiopathology
Biomechanics
Case-Control Studies
Gait Disorders, Neurologic / physiopathology*
Humans
Joints / physiology,  physiopathology*
Knee Joint / physiopathology
Leg / pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
Walking*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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