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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Three-Dimensional Trunk and Lower Limbs Characteristics during Gait in Patients with Huntington's Disease
Elzbieta Mirek1, Magdalena Filip1, Wiesław Chwała2
1Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Laboratory of Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System, University School of Physical Education, Cracow, Poland.
Insights
Huntington
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Gait disturbances are common in Huntington's disease (HD), but a clear pattern remains undescribed.
- Understanding HD gait patterns is crucial for targeted rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the gait pattern in HD patients by analyzing lower limb joint and trunk kinematics.
- To identify specific gait abnormalities in individuals with Huntington's disease.
Main Methods:
- 30 HD patients and 30 healthy controls underwent gait analysis using the Vicon 250 system.
- Passive markers and the Golem biomechanical model were employed to capture lower limb and trunk movements.
- Mean angular changes during the gait cycle were quantified.
Main Results:
- HD patients exhibited insufficient plantar flexion and knee flexion during specific gait phases.
- Excessive hip flexion and a pathological forward trunk inclination were observed in HD patients throughout the gait cycle.
- Higher standard deviations in angular movements indicated greater gait variability in the HD group.
Conclusions:
- A pathological anterior tilt of the trunk is a characteristic gait disorder in all HD patients.
- These findings can inform physiotherapy interventions for Huntington's disease, focusing on trunk stabilization.
Abstract:
Objective: A number of studies on gait disturbances have been conducted, however, no clear pattern of gait disorders was described. The aim of the study was to characterize the gait pattern in HD patients by conducting analysis of mean angular movement changes the lower limb joints and trunk (kinematics parameters). Methods: The study group consisted of 30 patients with HD (17 women and 13 men). The reference data include the results of 30 healthy subjects (17 women and 13 men). Registration of gait with the Vicon 250 system was performed using passive markers attached to specific anthropometric points directly on the skin, based on the Golem biomechanical model (Oxford Metrics Ltd.). The research group and the control group were tested once. Results: Statistically significant (p < 0.05) angular changes in gait cycle for HD patients were observed in: insufficient plantar flexion during Loading Response and Pre-swing phases; insufficient flexion of the knee joint during Initial Swing and Mid Swing phases; excessive flexion of the hip in Terminal Stance and Pre-swing phases and over-normative forward inclination of the trunk in all gait phases. It should be noted that the group of patients with HD obtained, for all the mean angular movement changes higher standard deviation. Conclusion: A characteristic gait disorder common to all patients with HD occurring throughout the whole duration of the gait cycle is a pathological anterior tilt of the trunk. The results will significantly contribute to programming physiotherapy for people with HD, aimed at stabilizing the trunk in a position of extension during gait.
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