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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
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Upper body gait deviations in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Jacqueline Romkes1, Katrin Bracht-Schweizer1, Michèle Widmer2
1Centre for Clinical Movement Analysis, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Spitalstrasse 33, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|December 6, 2024
Summary
Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy exhibit distinct upper body gait deviations, including increased trunk backward lean and shoulder abduction, impacting overall mobility. This study provides objective insights into their unique walking patterns.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical analysis
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Gait kinematics
Background:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive muscle degeneration, impacting overall function.
- Preserving walking ability is crucial for patients with DMD.
- Limited objective data exists on upper body gait patterns in DMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively investigate upper body gait deviations in DMD patients.
- To compare upper body kinematics between DMD patients and typically developing peers.
- To enhance the understanding of full-body gait compensations in DMD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of three-dimensional full-body gait data from 12 DMD boys.
- Comparison with 16 age-matched healthy children at similar walking speeds.
- Statistical analysis using independent t-tests, Hedges'g, and non-parametric mapping.
Main Results:
- DMD patients showed increased posterior pelvic tilt and backward trunk lean with shoulder extension.
- Increased shoulder abduction and wider strides were observed in the frontal plane.
- Thorax range of motion was elevated in all three planes, while transverse rotation was similar.
Conclusions:
- Upper body and trunk kinematics offer valuable objective data for understanding DMD gait.
- Findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of full-body gait compensations in DMD.
- Objective kinematic data can inform therapeutic strategies for improving mobility in DMD.
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