Clinical biomechanics
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Clinical biomechanics · May 2008
Controlled Clinical TrialA new approach to detecting asymmetries in gait.
Traditional parameters used to assess gait asymmetries, e.g., joint range of motion or symmetry indices, fail to provide insight regarding timing and magnitude of movement deviations among lower limb joints during the gait cycle. This study evaluated the efficacy of a new approach for quantifying aspects of gait asymmetry. ⋯ Region of deviation analysis effectively identified the timing and magnitude of deviations throughout the gait cycle, and provided information about the impact of a joint-mobility perturbation on neighboring joints. This new methodology will be useful in clinical settings to identify, characterize, and monitor recovery from asymmetric behaviors associated with injuries or pathologies.
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Clinical biomechanics · May 2008
Controlled Clinical TrialEffects of Parkinson's disease and levodopa on functional limits of stability.
The voluntary, maximum inclined posture reflects the self-perceived limits of stability. Parkinson's disease is associated with small, bradykinetic postural weight shifts while standing but it is unclear whether this is due to reduced limits of stability and/or to the selection of abnormal strategies for leaning. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Parkinson's disease and levodopa medication on voluntary limits of stability and strategies used to reach these limits. ⋯ Parkinson's disease reduces functional limits of stability as well as the magnitude and velocity of postural preparation during voluntary, forward and backward leaning while standing. Levodopa improves the limits of stability but not the postural strategies used to achieve the leaning.