Search Results (31)

Objectives: This study is the first to investigate the association between lower limb muscle–tendon mechanical properties and dual-task gait variability using a handheld, non-invasive myotonometer (MyotonPRO). Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 48 participants (older adults: 72.05 ± 3.52 years; younger adults: 24.8 ± 2.36 years). The stiffness and elasticity of dominant lower limb muscles and tendons were assessed using the MyotonPRO. Gait variability—including step length, stride length, and gait cycle time—was measured using the OptoGait system. Results: Compared to the younger group, older adults showed increased stiffness of the patellar tendon (p < 0.001) and decreased stiffness of the Achilles tendon (p < 0.047). Additionally, both the rectus femoris and biceps femoris exhibited significantly higher stiffness (p < 0.05) and reduced elasticity (p < 0.001). Patellar tendon stiffness was positively correlated with gait variability (r = 0.55 to 0.68, p < 0.01), whereas Achilles tendon stiffness showed a negative correlation (r = −0.32 to −0.40, p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence linking muscle–tendon mechanical properties with dual-task gait stability in older adults. Increased stiffness in the patellar tendon and decreased stiffness in the Achilles tendon suggest these structural characteristics may play a crucial role in gait control and hold potential as predictive markers of fall risk. Linking non-invasive MyotonPRO-derived mechanical properties with key spatiotemporal gait parameters may support its potential use in the early detection of gait instability in older adults. Full article

Hip flexion range of motion (ROM) during gait is an important surgery outcome for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) that could help patient monitoring and rehabilitation. To allow systematic measurements during patients’ clinical pathways, hip ROM measurement should be as simple and cheap as possible to ensure patient and clinician acceptance. Single IMU options can match these requirements and offer measurements both during daily living conditions and standardized clinical tests (e.g., 10 m walk, timed up-and-go). However, single-IMU approaches to measure hip ROM have been limited. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the accuracy of one IMU in measuring hip ROM during gait and to determine whether a single-IMU approach can provide results comparable to those of multi-IMU systems. To assess this, machine learning models were employed, ranging from the simplest (linear regression) to more complex approaches (artificial neural networks). Eighteen patients undergoing THA and seven controls were measured using a 3D opto-electronic motion capture system and one thigh-mounted IMU. Hip ROM was predicted from thigh ROM using regression and classification models and was compared to the reference hip ROM. Multiple regression was the best-performing model, with limits of agreement (LoA) of ±13° and a systematic bias of 0. Random forest, RNN, GRU and LSTM models yielded LoA ranges > 27.8°, exceeding the threshold of acceptable error. These results showed that one IMU can measure hip ROM with errors comparable to those of two-IMU methods, with potential for improvement. Using multiple linear regression was sufficient and more appropriate than employing complex ANN models. This approach offers simplicity and acceptance to users in clinical settings. Full article

Muscle mass and physical function are key risk factors for sarcopenia, with emerging evidence suggesting links to gait variability in older adults. This study investigated the relationships between muscle mass decline, poor physical performance, sarcopenia, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in 242 Korean older adults (mean age: 79.1 ± 4.2 years). Muscle mass (MM) was measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), physical performance (PP) via the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and gait parameters (gait speed, stride length, double-limb stance) via the Optogait^® system. Stride length significantly influenced low MM, while double-limb stance was linked to increased risks of poor PP and sarcopenia. The area under the curve (AUC) for double-limb stance was 0.698 (95% CI: 0.633–0.763, p < 0.001) for poor PP and 0.647 (95% CI: 0.568–0.726, p = 0.001) for sarcopenia. A novel model combining gait speed and double-limb stance achieved an AUC of 0.702 (95% CI: 0.622–0.781, p < 0.001) with 78.9% sensitivity and 76.3% specificity. These findings highlight spatiotemporal gait analysis as a promising tool for early sarcopenia detection and management in older adults. Full article

Background: Exoskeleton robots are emerging as a transformative technology in healthcare, rehabilitation, and industrial settings, providing significant benefits such as improving gait restoration and preventing injuries. These robots enhance mobility for individuals with neuromuscular disorders by providing muscular assistance and reducing physical strain, while also supporting workers in physically demanding tasks. They improve gait efficiency, muscle activation, and overall physical function, contributing to both rehabilitation and occupational health. Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of exoskeleton use on muscle activation patterns, fatigue levels, and gait parameters in healthy individuals. Methods: Thirty-six participants engaged in a randomized sequence gait experiment on a treadmill for 30 min, both with and without an exoskeleton, with electromyography (EMG) and OptoGait measurements collected during the sessions. A one-week washout period was implemented before participants switched conditions. Results: In the Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) analysis, significant differences were observed in the Rectus femoris (RF) and gastrocnemius(GM) when wearing the exoskeleton robot compared to not wearing it. At 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min, the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) for all muscles. In the muscle fatigue analysis, significant differences were observed in RF, GM, vastus medialis (VM), and hamstring(HS) at 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min (p < 0.05). In the step length and stride length analysis, significant differences were observed at 10 min and 30 min, but no differences were found at 20 min (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the use of the exoskeleton robot significantly impacts muscle activation, muscle fatigue, and gait parameters. The results emphasize the potential benefits of exoskeletons in enhancing mobility and reducing muscle strain, providing important insights for rehabilitation and occupational applications Full article

Background and Objectives: Weight-bearing activities exacerbate pain and fatigue in functional flat foot, with uphill walking presenting additional challenges due to increased external loads. The current study investigates whether 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can enhance gait variables and ankle alignment during uphill walking. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy young adults, divided into two groups (normal foot condition (control, n = 10), functional flat foot (FF, n = 10)), walked on a treadmill at a 10% incline under two conditions: wearing shoes alone (shoe) or wearing shoes with 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles (SI). Gait pattern, center of force (COF), and ankle joint angles were analyzed by OptoGait, Tekscan, and Kinovea, respectively. Results: The foot flat phase of the gait pattern was prolonged in individuals with FF compared to the control under both shoe and SI conditions, whereas the propulsive phase was shortened with the SI. Medial deviation of the COF during the propulsive phase, observed in individuals with FF under the shoe condition, was corrected to a more lateral alignment with the SI, resembling the COF alignment of the control. Additionally, individuals with FF under the shoe condition exhibited increased ankle pronation compared to the control, whereas the SI moderated pronation, achieving alignment closer to that of the control. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the 3D-printed customized arch-support insoles can improve gait mechanics and ankle alignment in individuals with FF, particularly under challenging conditions such as uphill walking. Full article

Background: Virtual reality-based training has been widely used for post-stroke patients due to its positive effects on functional aspects by promoting brain plasticity. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of gait training with virtual reality-based real-time feedback on motor function, balance, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in post-stroke patients. Methods: Fifteen patients (n = 15) with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality-based real-time feedback with treadmill gait training (experimental group n = 8) or the treadmill gait training (control group n = 7). For the experimental group that participated, a treadmill, an Oculus Rift VR device, and smart insoles were used for gait training with VR-based real-time feedback. Regarding gait training with VR-based real-time feedback, the patient wore an Oculus Rift and performed gait training on a treadmill for 30 min a day, three times a week, for 5 weeks. The control group participated in treadmill gait training for 30 min a day, three times a week, for 5 weeks. Motor function was measured using the Fugl-Meyer assessment. Balance was measured using the timed up and go test and Berg balance scale. Gait performance was measured using an Optogait. The normality test was performed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the within-group comparison, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for the between-group comparison. Results: In the group analyses, both groups showed significant improvements in motor function balance and gait ability. According to the pre- and post-treatment results, greater improvement in the Fugl-Meyer assessment (experimental group: 4.75 vs. control group: 1.57) was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In balance ability, greater improvement in the timed up and go test (experimental group: −3.10 vs. control group: −1.12) and Berg balance scale (experimental group: 3.00 vs. control group: 1.71) (p < 0.05). In the spatiotemporal gait parameters, greater improvement in affected step length (5.35 vs. 2.01), stride length (3.86 vs. 1.75), affected single support (2.61 vs. 1.22), and cadence (0.07 vs. 0.02) was observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggested the positive effects of the virtual reality-based real-time feedback with treadmill gait training on motor function, balance, and gait performance. Full article

The evaluation of gait biomechanics using portable inertial measurement units (IMUs) offers real-time feedback and has become a crucial tool for detecting gait disorders. However, many of these devices have not yet been fully validated. The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity and relative reliability of the RunScribe™ system for measuring spatiotemporal gait parameters during walking. A total of 460 participants (age: 36 ± 13 years; height: 173 ± 9 cm; body mass: 70 ± 13 kg) were asked to walk on a treadmill at 5 km·h⁻¹. Spatiotemporal parameters of step frequency (SF), step length (SL), step time (ST), contact time (CT), swing time (SwT), stride time (StT), stride length (StL) and normalized stride length (StL%) were measured through RunScribe™ and OptoGait™ systems. Bland–Altman analysis indicated small systematic biases and random errors for all variables. Pearson correlation analysis showed strong correlations (0.70–0.94) between systems. The intraclass correlation coefficient supports these results, except for contact time (ICC = 0.64) and swing time (ICC = 0.34). The paired t-test showed small differences in SL, StL and StL% (≤0.25) and large in CT and SwT (1.2 and 2.2, respectively), with no differences for the rest of the variables. This study confirms the accuracy of the RunScribe™ system for assessing spatiotemporal parameters during walking, potentially reducing the barriers to continuous gait monitoring and early detection of gait issues. Full article

There is a paucity of research applying fully immersive virtual reality (VR) training to older adults with degenerative joint disease. This study investigated the effects of a training program utilizing fully immersive VR games on proprioception and gait ability in older patients with degenerative arthritis who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. This randomized controlled trial enrolled patients aged ≥65 years who were diagnosed with knee joint arthritis and had undergone knee arthroplasty followed by physical therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (receiving training using fully immersive VR games along with regular physical therapy) and a control group (receiving only regular physical therapy). The intervention was conducted five times a week for four weeks. Knee joint proprioception was measured using Biodex before and after the intervention. Spatial–temporal gait variables were collected using OptoGait for gait assessment. There was a significant decrease in the absolute error values of proprioception after the intervention in the experimental group, compared to before (p < 0.05), indicating improvement in proprioception. Gait speed, step count, and stride length improved significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), demonstrating an enhancement in gait ability. The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in gait speed, step count, and stride length than the control group (p < 0.01). Training using a fully immersive VR exercise program may have potential benefits for improving proprioception and gait parameters in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty. Fully immersive VR game-based training can be utilized as an effective rehabilitation intervention for patients undergoing knee arthroplasty in the future. Full article

Background and Objetives: The foot is a part of the body’s kinetic chain and needs to be efficient during the entire gait cycle. Electronic Sensor Gait analysis is useful and an important tool within the area of podiatry to assess the physical state of patients that helps the comprehensive intervention in situations where the daily activity is limited. The aim of this research is to evaluate if the presence of a hallux limitus (HL) can alter gait space–time parameters and consequently can affect the take-off phase of the gait and the limitation of the range of motion (ROM) of the hallux. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was designed to verify whether there are alterations in the spatiotemporal parameters of the gait cycle between subjects with structural HL compared to the group of subjects with a normal hallux range. A total of n = 138 participants, cases (68 HL subjects) and healthy controls (70 subjects) were studied using an OptoGait LED sensor system to identify gait imbalances using OptoGait photocell gait analysis sensors. Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to stride length, gait cycle duration in seconds (for both feet) and for total stride and load response (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The limitation of the Hallux ROM may alter the normal gait patterns measured with an Optogait system. The early identification and treatment of gait disturbances due to HL are important to achieve normal gait physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Full article

The use of stereophotogrammetry systems is challenging when targeting children’s gait analysis due to the time required and the need to keep physical markers in place. For this reason, marker-less photoelectric systems appear to be a solution for accurate and fast gait analysis in youth. The aim of this study is to validate a photoelectric system and its configurations (LED filter setting) on healthy children, comparing the kinematic gait parameters with those obtained from a three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry system. Twenty-seven healthy children were enrolled. Three LED filter settings for the OptoGait were compared to the BTS P6000. The analysis included the non-parametric 80% limits of agreement and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Additionally, normalised limits of agreement and bias (NLoAs and Nbias) were compared to the clinical experience of physical therapists (i.e., assuming an error lower than 5% is acceptable). ICCs showed excellent consistency for most of the parameters and filter settings; NLoAs varied between 1.39% and 12.62%. An inverse association between the number of LEDs for filter setting and the bias values was also observed. Observations confirm the validity of the OptoGait system for the evaluation of spatiotemporal gait parameters in children. Full article

The aim of this study was to verify whether providing older adults with actual corrected glasses for refractive errors would have a positive impact on their gait patterns. This study included 30 subjects with an average age of 78.77 ± 7.27 years. The measurement of gait patterns was performed using the Optogait analysis system, and a comparative analysis was performed to compare the patients before and after they wore correction glasses. Step length, stride length, and width showed significant increases after the patients wore correction glasses, and cadence showed a decrease compared to before they wore correction glasses (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was observed between step length and stride length (r = 0.779, p < 0.001), and a decrease in cadence (r = −0.686, p < 0.001) was observed with increasing step length. In addition, a proportional increase in speed with increasing step length was observed after the patients wore correction glasses (r = 0.416, p < 0.05). The correction of residual refractive errors in order to provide optimal visual information can have a positive effect on gait patterns. Therefore, efforts by optometry professionals to provide the accurate correction of refractive errors in elderly patients can contribute to the prevention of falls, and collaboration with other experts is needed. Full article

Altered tibiofemoral contact forces represent a risk factor for osteoarthritis onset and progression, making optimization of the knee force distribution a target of treatment strategies. Musculoskeletal model-based simulations are a state-of-the-art method to estimate joint contact forces, but they typically require laboratory-based input and skilled operators. To overcome these limitations, ambulatory methods, relying on inertial measurement units, have been proposed to estimated ground reaction forces and, consequently, knee contact forces out-of-the-lab. This study proposes the use of a full inertial-capture-based musculoskeletal modelling workflow with an underlying probabilistic principal component analysis model trained on 1787 gait cycles in patients with knee osteoarthritis. As validation, five patients with knee osteoarthritis were instrumented with 17 inertial measurement units and 76 opto-reflective markers. Participants performed multiple overground walking trials while motion and inertial capture methods were synchronously recorded. Moderate to strong correlations were found for the inertial capture-based knee contact forces compared to motion capture with root mean square error between 0.15 and 0.40 of body weight. The results show that our workflow can inform and potentially assist clinical practitioners to monitor knee joint loading in physical therapy sessions and eventually assess long-term therapeutic effects in a clinical context. Full article

The use of lower limb tests in the paediatric population is of great importance for diagnostic evaluations. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the tests performed on the feet and ankles, covering all of its planes, and the spatiotemporal parameters of children’s gait. Methods: It is a cross-sectional observational study. Children aged between 6 and 12 years participated. Measurements were carried out in 2022. An analysis of three tests used to assess the feet and ankles (FPI, the ankle lunge test, and the lunge test), as well as a kinematic analysis of gait using OptoGait as a measurement tool, was performed. Results: The spatiotemporal parameters show how Jack’s Test is significant in the propulsion phase in its % parameter, with a p-value of 0.05 and a mean difference of 0.67%. Additionally, in the lunge test, we studied the % of midstance in the left foot, with a mean difference between the positive test and the 10 cm test of 10.76 (p value of 0.04). Conclusions: The diagnostic analysis of the functional limitation of the first toe (Jack’s test) is correlated with the spaciotemporal parameter of propulsion, as well as the lunge test, which is also correlated with the midstance phase of gait. Full article

The aim of the present study was to determine the level of association of the spatio-temporal gait parameters in subjects with and without plantar fasciopathy. The second objective was to analyze whether differences in spatio-temporal parameters between both groups exist. Seventy-four subjects divided in two groups participated in the study, one presenting subjects with plantar fasciopathy for more than three months (n = 31), and the other group comprising subjects without plantar fasciopathy (n = 43). The spatio-temporal parameters were measured using Optogait. Decreased step length (p < 0.001), increased contact phase (p < 0.001), increased double support (p < 0.001), increased load response (p < 0.001), increased pre-swing (p < 0.001), increased gait cycle (p = 0.002), decreased stride (p < 0.001), decreased speed (p < 0.001), decreased cadence (p < 0.001), decreased phase flatfoot (p = 0.001), and increased propulsion (p < 0.001) in subjects with PF showed statistically significant differences when compared with the control group.. Furthermore, the level of association between the spatio-temporal parameters was different when comparing the groups. These findings may help when assessing potential plantar fascia injuries, and they may serve as a tool that helps with clinical decision-making, or as a clinical measurement in a treatment and follow-up program. Full article

Sport is a science of constant reinvention that is always searching for strategies to improve performance. Objective: This study seeks to compare the effects of myofascial release with Findings-Oriented Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT) combined with Foam Roller (FR), versus FR by itself, on the physical performance of university athletes. A randomized controlled study was conducted with a total of twenty-nine university athletes, measuring Range of Motion (ROM), jump height and flight time, strength and dynamic flexibility using Goniometer pro, CMJ protocol in OptoGait, 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) and Mean Propulsive Velocity (MPV) and the Sit and Reach (V) test, correspondingly. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov prior to the initial measurement of the participants under the code NCT05347303. Through a univariate analysis, together with an analysis of independent groups with ANOVA and an analysis of covariance, it was evidenced that OMT combined with FR generated more and better effects in all the evaluated ROM, jump height and flight time, RM and VMP tests. Finally, it was found that OMT combined with FR is better when it is desired to improve ROM, muscle power, strength and flexibility, while FR alone only improves dynamic flexibility. Full article