GAIT

(50 Points)

Fall  2003
The basic temporal-spatial parameters are extremely important in the assessment of gait, but they are surprisingly difficult to record accurately, especially over extended periods of time!

Aims

• Learn about walking
• Measure stride length
• Vary the attributes of gait.

Objectives

Measure the temporal-spatial parameters (speed, cadence, stride length) of a normal subject. To observe how variations in gait affect the attributes of gait.


Lab Procedures

Stride Length:
  1. A distance of 10 m to be marked on the floor. This is the walkway. Since our measurements will assume that the subject is walking at a constant speed, there is also some distance before and after the walkway to allow the subject to accelerate and decelerate.
  2. Choose the subject. Note the subject’s height, and leg-length. This is the distance from anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) of the pelvis to the medial malleolus (inside of the ankle). We will use this measurement to normalize the results.
  3. Start the stopwatch at the moment the subject crosses the start line.
  4. Count the number of steps taken.
  5. Stop the stopwatch when the subject crosses the finish line.
  6. Calculate speed, cadence and stride length of the subject
  7. Repeat 3 times. Calculate averages and standard deviations


Energy Expenditure:

For all procedures:

  1. Have subject walk on the motor driven treadmill at a comfortable speed somewhere between 2.5 mph and 3 mph for five minutes.
  2. Calculate cadence. While the subject is walking on the treadmill, the cadence can be calculated by counting the number of steps the subject takes in 15, 30 or 60 seconds. If you take a 15 or 30 second count, you need to correct for a minute.
  3. Collect expired gases during the last two minutes. Keep the subject walking until a steady state has been achieved. (put the mouthpiece in during the second minute)
  4. keep the treadmill speed constant and collect expired gases in the same manor for the following variations in gait
    1. Stride length cut in half
    2. Stride length as long as possible
    3. Toe strike instead of a heel strike (normal stride length as possible; adjust treadmill speed if needed)
    4. Straight knees (whatever stride length is possible; adjust treadmill speed if needed)

Questions

  1. Plot the energy expenditure for (5 pts)
    1. normal gait
    2. short stride
    3. long stride
  2. Explain the differences in energy expenditure among the variations in gait influenced by stride lenght. (5 pts)
  3. Plot the energy expenditure for (5 pts)
    1. normal gait
    2. toes strike
    3. straight knees
  4. Explian the differences in energy expenditure among variations in gait influenced by altering the attributes of gait. (5 pts)
  5. What gait variations can be found in diabetic peripheral neuropathy? Which attributes of gait does diabetic peripheral neuropathy affect? (10 pts)
  6. How would a left-sided (mild hemiparesis) stroke affect gait? Which attributes of gait would the stroke affect? (10 pts)
  7. How would EMG be integrated with gait to evaluate a patient with post-polio syndrome? Which muscles would be observed in the gait analysis? (10 pts)