Tibiofemoral Contact Measures During Standing in Toe-In and Toe-Out Postures.

Knee osteoarthritis is thought to result, in part, from excessive and unbalanced joint loading. Toe-in and toe-out gait modifications produce alterations in external knee joint moments, and some improvements in pain over the short- and long-term. The aim of this study was to probe mechanisms of altered joint loading through the assessment of tibiofemoral contact in standing with toe-in and toe-out positions using an open magnetic resonance scanner.

Long-term gait outcomes following conservative management of idiopathic toe walking.

Background: Idiopathic toe walking is a diagnosis of exclusion characterized by a persistent toe-toe gait pattern after three years of age. Treatment for toe walking includes physical therapy, orthotics, casting, Botulinum Toxin A injection into gastrocnemius/soleus muscles, and/or surgery; yet, little evidence exists regarding long-term treatment effects.

Research Question: The objective of this study was to explore the differences in longer-term gait outcomes and severity of idiopathic toe walking between children treated actively with casting or inactively following recommendations for stretching.

Classification of midfoot break using multi-segment foot kinematics and pedobarography.

Midfoot break (MFB) is a foot deformity that can occur when ankle dorsiflexion is restricted due to muscle spasticity or contractures, causing abnormal increased motion through the midfoot. MFB has been previously described in terms of forefoot (FF) and hindfoot (HF) motion in the sagittal plane. The purpose of this study was to further classify MFB by describing FF and HF motion in the coronal and transverse planes along with plantar pressures, with the goal of optimizing treatment of this deformity.

A kinematic description of dynamic midfoot break in children using a multi-segment foot model.

Midfoot break (MFB) is a foot deformity that occurs most commonly in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but may also affect children with other developmental disorders. Dynamic MFB develops because the muscles that cross the ankle joint are hypertonic, resulting in a breakdown and dysfunction of the bones within the foot. In turn, this creates excessive motion at the midfoot.

Normative data for the dynamic pedobarographic profiles of children.

In order to establish the clinical utility of pedobarography in the treatment of childhood foot pathology, a reliable set of pedobarograph data describing non-pathologic feet is required. The purpose of this study was to describe the pedobarographic profiles of normal children across all ages, with specific focus on young children and explore age-related differences in foot pressure patterns. The Tekscan HR Mat pressure measurement system was used in a protocol involving a dynamic test at self-selected speed and walking pattern of 146 normal children (age range 1.

Classification of idiopathic toe walking based on gait analysis: development and application of the ITW severity classification.

Idiopathic toe walking (ITW), considered abnormal after the age of 3 years, is a common complaint seen by medical professionals, especially orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists. A classification for idiopathic toe walking would be helpful to better understand the condition, delineate true idiopathic toe walkers from patients with other conditions, and allow for assignment of a severity gradation, thereby directing management of ITW. The purpose of this study was to describe idiopathic toe walking and develop a toe walking classification scheme in a large sample of children.

The effect of prolonged cycling on pedal forces.

The aim of this study was to determine whether cyclists modify the pattern of force application to become more effective during a prolonged ride to exhaustion. Twelve competitive male cyclists completed a steady-rate exercise ride to exhaustion at 80% of their maximum power output at 90 rev x min(-1) on a cycle ergometer. Pedal force, pedal and crank angle data were collected from an instrumented bicycle for three pedalling cycles at the end of the first and final minutes of the exercise test with simultaneous video recording of the lower limbs.