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Substantiating Appropriate Motion Capture Techniques for the Assessment of Nordic Walking Gait and Posture in Older Adults
Published on: May 12, 2016
Comprehensive Evaluation of Gait Analysis and Kinematics in Adult Degenerative Scoliosis Using Wearable Motion
Samet Çıklaçandır1, Ibrahim Kaya1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Izmir 35620, Türkiye.
Background:
Traditional gait assessments in adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) often rely on prohibitively expensive, laboratory-bound optoelectronic systems that lack clinical accessibility. This research aims to independently evaluate both lower limbs using a wearable Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) system, in contrast to studies that employ a unilateral reference, thereby elucidating the unique bilateral asymmetries and dynamic stability patterns exhibited in ADS.
Methods:
Gait patterns of 20 ADS patients and 15 healthy controls were analyzed using the Rokoko Smartsuit Pro. Segmental kinematic data were integrated with anthropometric mass distribution models to calculate the total body center of mass (CoM). Spatiotemporal parameters, joint range of motion (RoM), and CoM excursions in three planes were statistically compared between the groups.
Results:
ADS patients exhibited a cautious gait strategy characterized by significantly reduced step speed, shortened step lengths, and increased step width (p<0.05). Temporal analysis showed prolonged stride, stance, and double support time (p<0.001), while cadence remained comparable to healthy controls. A triple-joint deficit, including hip, knee, and ankle, was identified in the sagittal plane, especially with peak flexion reductions reaching up to 55% in the left knee and 38% in the right knee, highlighting profound functional asymmetry (p<0.001). Additionally, the CoM analysis reflected these stability restrictions, showing increased horizontal excursion and reduced vertical oscillation.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that ADS is associated with distinct, bilateral alterations in the lower limb kinematic chain and notable adaptations in dynamic balance parameters, characterized by a cautious gait strategy and profound sagittal triple-joint asymmetries. These findings highlight the feasibility of full-body wearable IMU technology in capturing objective, bilateral gait alterations, providing a foundational baseline that could complement standard static radiography in future clinical evaluations.
