Frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics during walking in boys who are overweight versus healthy weight
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Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
Amy Gross McMillan1, Nancy L Auman, David N Collier
1Department of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. grossmcmillana@ecu.edu
Purpose:
To compare frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics during walking in adolescent boys who were overweight (OW) versus healthy weight (HW).
Methods:
Fourteen boys (7 considered HW, body mass index for age <85th percentile; age 10.8 +/- 0.7 years; 7 considered OW, body mass index for age >95th percentile; age 12.0 +/- 0.7 years) participated. Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected during walking at self-selected speeds. Group means were compared using Student's t tests (alpha = 0.05).
Results:
Significant differences were found in timing of rearfoot motions and moments, amplitude of knee motion peaks, timing of knee moment peaks, and timing and amplitudes of peak hip motion and moments.
Conclusion:
Boys who were OW collapsed into hip adduction and knee valgus during stance and attempted to compensate with rearfoot inversion. Observed differences in frontal plane kinematics during walking suggest that boys who are OW have increased risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunction.
