Do different methods for measuring joint moment asymmetry give the same results?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Gait asymmetry, a deviation from symmetrical limb movement, complicates pathological gait rehabilitation.
• Inconsistent findings in gait asymmetry research stem from varied definitions, methodologies, and calculation formulas.
• Standardizing asymmetry calculation is crucial for accurate comparisons and effective clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate bilateral lower extremity joint moment asymmetry during walking stance phase.
• To compare asymmetry values derived from three distinct calculation methods: Lathrop-Lambach, Su, and Nigg.
• To identify the most sensitive method for detecting subtle gait asymmetries in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated three-dimensional lower limb kinetics during comfortable walking in 14 male children (aged 8-14) with flat feet.
• Calculated joint moment asymmetry using established equations from Lathrop-Lambach (2014), Su (2015), and Nigg (2013) et al.
• Employed repeated-measures ANOVAs (α = 0.05) to statistically compare asymmetry values across the three methods.

Main Results:

• The Lathrop-Lambach and Su methods yielded significantly higher limb moment symmetry compared to the Nigg method (p < 0.05).
• The frontal ankle moment calculated by the Lathrop-Lambach method was an exception, showing no significant difference from the Nigg method.
• The Su method demonstrated a significant reduction in moment asymmetry across all joints and moments when compared to the Lathrop-Lambach method (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• While all three methods for calculating gait asymmetry have merits, they produce substantially different results.
• The choice of asymmetry calculation method significantly influences the interpretation of joint moment symmetry.
• The Su method appears more sensitive in detecting moment asymmetry, potentially offering a more refined assessment for clinical and research purposes.