Abstract
Although the causes and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are still unclear, a recent extensive review has indicated a number of possible aetiological factors. Previous investigations, employing gait measurements, have indicated asymmetries in the ground reaction forces and suggest a relationship between these asymmetries, neurological dysfunction and spinal deformity. Using a strain-gauge force platform, the present study has examined the time-domain parameters of various components of the ground reaction force together with impulse. Symmetry indices (SI) between left and right sides have also been estimated. The results show that the patients with a left compensatory curve had a greater SI for a left-side impulse, whilst subjects with little or no compensation had a greater rightside impulse. This indicates that a possible gait compensation is occurring, so that the subjects compensate on the opposite pelvis/lower limb to that of the curve. While indicating the asymmetries between left and right, the results also serve to highlight the value of using kinetic parameters in developing the understanding of the pathogenesis and aetiology of scoliosis.
Keywords: Ground reaction force, Impulse, Scoliosis, Spine
References
- 1.Beck RJ, Andriacchi TP, Kuo K, Fermier RW, Galante JO. Changes in the gait patterns of growing children. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981;63:1452–1457. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Burwell RG, Dangerfield PH. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: hypotheses of causation. In: Burwell RG, Dangerfield PH, Lowe TG, Margulies JY, editors. Etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. State of the art reviews 14. USA: Hanley and Belfus; 2000. pp. 319–334. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Burwell RG, Dangerfield PH, Lowe TG, Margulies JY, editors. Etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. State of the art reviews. USA: Hanley and Belfus; 2000. [Google Scholar]
- 4.Burwell RG, Kirby AS, Cole AA, Webb JK, Moulton A, Cavdar S (1997) Torsion in lower limb bones of children screened for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In: Sevastik JA, Diab KM (eds) Research into spinal deformities, IOS Press, pp 57–61
- 5.Giakas G, Baltzopoulos V. Time and frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces during walking: an investigation of variability and symmetry. Gait Posture. 1997;5:189–197. doi: 10.1016/S0966-6362(96)01083-1. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Giakas G, Baltzopoulos V, Dangerfield PH, Dorgan JC, Dalmira S. Comparison of gait patterns between healthy and scoliotic patients using time and frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces. Spine. 1996;21:2235–2242. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199610010-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Goh JH, Thambyah A, Bose K. Effects of varying backpack loads on peak forces in the lumbosacral spine during walking. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 1998;13:S26–S31. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(97)00071-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Hamil J, Kuntzen KM. Biomechanical basis of human movement. Philadelphia: Lippincott; 1995. pp. 398–403. [Google Scholar]
- 9.Hatze H. Motion variability its definition, quantification and origin. J Mot Behav. 1986;18:5–16. doi: 10.1080/00222895.1986.10735368. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Herzog W, Nigg BM, Read LJ, Olsson E. Asymmetries in ground reaction force patterns in normal human gait. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1989;21:10–114. doi: 10.1249/00005768-198902000-00020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11.James PJ, Nicol AC, Hamblen DL. A comparison of gait symmetry and hip movements in the assessment of patients with monarticular hip arthritis. Clin Biomech. 1994;9:162–166. doi: 10.1016/0268-0033(94)90016-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Karlsson A, Frykberg G. Correlations between force plate measures for assessment of balance. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2000;15:365–369. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(99)00096-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Kim CM, Eng JJ. Symmetry in vertical ground reaction force is accompanied by symmetry in temporal but not distance variables of gait in persons with stroke. Gait Posture. 2003;18:23–28. doi: 10.1016/S0966-6362(02)00122-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14.Lemmers LG, Sanders MM, Cool JC, Grootenboer HJ. The cause of axial rotation of the scoliotic spine. Clin Biomech. 1991;6:179–184. doi: 10.1016/0268-0033(91)90031-K. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.McCrory JL, White SC, Lifeso RM. Proceedings of North American Congress on Biomechanics. Canada: University of Waterloo; 1998. Vertical ground reaction forces: objective measures of gait following hip arthroplasty. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Schizas CG, Kramers-de Quervain IA, Stussi E, Grob D. Gait asymmetries in patients with idiopathic scoliosis using vertical force measurement only. Eur Spine J. 1998;7:95–98. doi: 10.1007/s005860050037. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Stokes IAF. Analysis of symmetry of vertebral body loading consequent of lateral spinal curvature. Spine. 1997;22:2495–2503. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199711010-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 18.Stokes IAF, Gardner-Morse M. Analysis of the interaction between vertebral lateral deviation and axial rotation in scoliosis. J Biomech. 1991;24:753–759. doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(91)90339-O. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19.Wilk BE, White SC, Gilchrist LA. Proceedings of North American Congress on Biomechanics. Canada: University of Waterloo; 1998. Effect of an induced leg-length discrepancy on kinetic measures derived from vertical ground reaction forces during normal treadmill walking. [Google Scholar]