Differentiation of patients with chronic lombosciatica due to disc hernia using gait analysis techniques

Nowadays gait analysis represent a modern technique used as a useful tool in the assessment of patients with locomotors disease.

To make a differentiation of patients with chronic sciatica due to disc hernia using gait analysis techniques.

Study was prospective, with consecutive selection of subjects according to eligibility criteria, using a control group. The number of subjects was 47: 28 patients and 19 healthy subjects. The patients were characterized clinically, imagistically and biomechanically. The biomechanically evaluation was made with VICON MX optical motion capture system. Our data of interest were: temporo-spatial and kinematic parameters. These data were factorial analyzed with a principal component extraction technique, resulting 10 variables, which characterized the system variability in 94.67%. Next step was represented by a hierarchical cluster analysis for sub-group identification.

We have differentiated two clusters. The two clusters were individualized regarding the temporo-spatial parameters (opposite foot contact, step width) as well as the kinematic parameters (maximum upward rotation in stance of pelvis, maximum adduction of the hip in stance, maximum abduction of the hip in swing, maximum plantar flexion angle in swing, total sagittal plane excursion of the ankle).

The two clusters can be defined as following: cluster 1: reduced stance phase and mainly distal problems (of the ankle); cluster 2: normal stance phase duration, severely low step width and mainly proximal problems (pelvic belt).