Simulated Stiff-knee Gait in Healthy Adults.

, Kim, Deog Young; , Park, Chang Il; , Ahn, So Young; , Na, Sang Il; , Park, Tae Hoon; , Nam, Hee Seung; , Yang, Eun Ju; , Lee, Don Sin

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2007;31(3):310-316.

Kim, Deog Young , Park, Chang Il , Ahn, So Young , Na, Sang Il , Park, Tae Hoon , Nam, Hee Seung , Yang, Eun Ju , Lee, Don Sin

Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea. imdrnam@dreamwiz.com

정상 성인에서의 모의 뻗정다리 보행

김덕용, 박창일, 안소영, 나상일, 박태훈, 남희승, 양은주, 이돈신

연세대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실 및 재활의학연구소

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the effect of simulated stiff knee on the gait parameters.
Method
Twenty healthy male adults were recruited. The temporospatial, kinematic & kinetic parameters and energy consumption were analyzed under three different conditions which were free gait, fixed knee flexion in neutral position and limited knee flexion to 30 degrees using knee orthosis.
Results
When knee flexion was fixed in neutral position, the cadence and walking speed significantly decreased, and the step time, step width, O2 cost significantly increased compared to free gait. When knee flexion was limited or fixed in neutral position, the kinematic and kinetic parameters in pelvis, hip, knee and ankle joints significantly changed compared with free gait.
Conclusion
Simulated stiff-knee may affect not only knee joint but also pelvis, hip and ankle joints with increased energy consumption. These findings help us to understand the compensatory mechanism and energy conservation of stiff-knee gait. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 310-316)

Key Words: Gait analysis, Simulated stiff-knee gait, Energy consumption