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The locomotion laboratory as a clinical assessment system
Medical Progress Through Technology
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Locomotion laboratories have evolved significantly for clinical gait analysis. This review examines their development, successes, failures, and applications in assessing gait pathologies like amputees and cerebral palsy.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Assessment
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Locomotion laboratories have a long history of development as clinical tools.
- Assessing human locomotion is crucial for understanding movement and diagnosing pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution, successes, and failures of locomotion assessment systems.
- To present the current state of knowledge in normal gait and clinical applications.
- To critique current assessment methods and suggest future technological developments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of locomotion assessment systems.
- Analysis of the state of knowledge for normal gait.
- Review of clinical applications in four major gait pathologies: amputees, hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, and joint replacement.
- Critique of assessment methods and biomechanical modeling.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of normal gait biomechanics.
- Assessment of current knowledge and methods for gait pathologies.
- Identification of limitations in current assessment technologies and the lack of biomechanical modeling.
- Discussion on the practical considerations (cost, personnel, systems) of clinical locomotion laboratories.
Conclusions:
- Locomotion laboratories are valuable but require critical evaluation of their purpose and cost-effectiveness.
- Further technological development and integration of biomechanical modeling are needed for improved gait analysis.
- The review aims to stimulate discussion on optimizing clinical locomotion laboratory function and resource allocation.