Relationship between obesity and plantar pressure distribution in youths with Down syndrome.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the effect of obesity on foot-ground contact in young individuals affected by Down syndrome (DS) during quiet upright stance.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study on 118 individuals with Down syndrome, 59 with obesity aged 3-18 yrs and 59 with normal weight, age- and sex-matched forming the control group. Both groups were evaluated while standing on a pressure-sensitive mat.

Foot-ground interaction during upright standing in children with Down syndrome.

This study aimed to quantitatively characterize the main foot-ground contact parameters during static upright standing and to assess foot evolution with increasing age in young individuals affected by Down syndrome (DS). To this end, 99 children with DS of mean age 9.7 (1.

Quantitative evaluation of facial movement and morphology.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to quantitatively analyze facial motion kinematics by means of an optoelectronic system. In particular, we defined a set of easily recognizable reference points for markerization, and tested the applicability of our markerization method for an exhaustive characterization of the subjects' facial motion through the definition of some kinematic parameters.

Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (mean age, 24.

Quantitative analysis of upper limbs during gait: a marker set protocol.

Purpose: to develop a marker set for simultaneously assessing upper and lower limb biomechanics during gait.

Methods: 24 healthy young subjects (mean age: 23.80 years) were assessed quantitatively using an optoelectronic system, two force platform and a video system.

The effects of femoral derotation osteotomy in cerebral palsy: a kinematic and kinetic study.

We attempted to quantify the effects of isolated femoral derotation osteotomies using clinical evaluation and gait analysis (kinematics and kinetics) in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Twelve children with CP were evaluated before and 10 months after isolated femoral derotation osteotomy, and 15 healthy children were evaluated as controls. There were significant improvements on clinical examination.

Postural control in children, teenagers and adults with Down syndrome.

The goal of this work was to analyze postural control in Down syndrome (DS) participants considering three different groups composed by children, teenagers and adults with DS. An analysis of the centre of pressure (COP) displacement during standing position was therefore performed for the three groups of subjects. The obtained signal of COP was then analyzed in both time and frequency domains in order to perform a thorough analysis of the signal.

3D gait analysis in patients with hereditary spastic paraparesis and spastic diplegia: a kinematic, kinetic and EMG comparison.

The predominant clinical feature of patients with Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis (HSP) is gait disturbance owing to spasticity and weakness of the lower limbs; the spasticity in early-onset disease (infancy or childhood) often cannot be distinguished from mild form of spastic diplegia (SD). The aim of this study was to quantify the gait strategy in HSP and SD children, focusing on the differences between groups as concerns functional limitation during gait. 9 HSP and 16 SD children were evaluated using Gait Analysis; kinematic and kinetic parameters and EMG pattern during walking were identified and calculated to compare the two gait strategies.

Gait Analysis before and after Gastrocnemius Fascia Lengthening for Spastic Equinus Foot Deformity in a 10-Year-Old Diplegic Child.

Purpose. This case study quantified kinematic and kinetic effects of gastrocnemius lengthening on gait in a Cerebral Palsy child with equinus foot. Methods.

Are knee kinematic anomalies in swing due to rectus femoris spasticity different from those due to femoral anteversion in children with cerebral palsy? A quantitative evaluation using 3D gait analysis.

Quantitative comparison of gait strategy between stiff knee gait caused by rectus femoris spasticity versus that caused by femoral anteversion was the objective of this study. Twenty-three diplegic were divided into group 1 (excessive femoral anteversion without rectus femoris spasticity) and group 2 (normal femoral anteversion and rectus femoris spasticity). Both groups showed low knee flexion during swing (KMSw), but although group 1 exhibited normal KMSw timing and high hip intrarotation, group 2 presented delayed KMSw timing, with normal hip rotation.

3D-Quantitative evaluation of a rigid seating system and dynamic seating system using 3D movement analysis in individuals with dystonic tetraparesis.

To improve postural stability in individuals with dystonic cerebral palsy, the concept of a dynamic seat has been suggested as a potential solution. An experimental set-up for the acquisition of movement during extensor thrusts while sitting on a seating system was defined and applied on a group of dystonic individuals, to compare a dynamic versus a rigid seat system, using quantitative movement analysis. The seating system in dynamic configuration is able to reduce the extensor thrust experienced by the consumers, as well as to increase range of motion in the anterior-posterior direction, limiting the sliding down of trunk and showing better upper limb smoothness during extensor thrusts.

Quantitative effects on proximal joints of botulinum toxin treatment for gastrocnemius spasticity: a 4-year-old case study.

Botulinum toxin A (BTA) is a recognized treatment for the early management of spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. This study quantified with Gait Analysis (GA) the gait pattern of a 4-year-old diplegic child with calf contracture before, 5 days, and 3 months after BTA injections into gastrocnemius. Kinematic and kinetic data of main lower limb joints were investigated.

Assessment of gait recovery in children after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: The aims were: (1) to quantify the functional limitation of children at the beginning of recovery of independent ambulation after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), using clinical-functional scales; (2) to evaluate the changes in gait pattern during rehabilitation (about 5 months later), using 3D Gait Analysis (GA) in post-acute phase; (3) to investigate the presence of correlation among parameters obtained by 3DGA, clinical assessment and measures connected with the trauma.

Methods: Fourteen children with hemiplegia after severe TBI were evaluated at independent gait recovery (S0) and 5.5 months later (S1) by clinical assessment (GOS, DRS, WeeFIM and GMFM) and 3D GA (spatio-temporal parameters, kinematics and kinetics).

Long-term evaluation of isolated gastrocnemius fascia lengthening in children with cerebral palsy using gait analysis.

The aim of this study was the quantification of outcomes on gait pattern of isolated gastrocnemius fascia lengthening treatment in children with cerebral palsy over time using gait analysis. Twelve children with cerebral palsy were evaluated with gait analysis before and after gastrocnemius fascia lengthening, in different follow-up sessions (from 3 to more than 25 months after treatment). Twenty healthy children were included as controls.

Are patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia different from patients with spastic diplegia during walking? Gait evaluation using 3D gait analysis.

Patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) often resemble patients with mild spastic diplegia (SD), although their motor limitations differ. The aim of this study was to analyse quantitatively the gait of HSP and SD subjects in order to define the gait pattern in HSP and the differences between the two conditions. Fifteen subjects with HSP, 40 patients with SD and 20 healthy subjects underwent gait analysis (GA).

Analysis of the correlation between three methods used in the assessment of children with cerebral palsy.

The primary aim of this study was to assess the correlations between gait analysis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scores in children with cerebral palsy (CP). These common diagnostic tools were used to evaluate 21 children affected by CP (mean age: 6 years, range: 5-13 years; 8 females and 13 males; 5 left hemiplegics, 4 right hemiplegics, 12 diplegics). In particular, in order to compare gait analysis data with other diagnostic evaluations, the Normalcy Index (NI) was used.

Clinical implications of gait analysis in the rehabilitation of adult patients with "Prader-Willi" Syndrome: a cross-sectional comparative study ("Prader-Willi" Syndrome vs matched obese patients and healthy subjects).

Background: Being severely overweight is a distinctive clinical feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). PWS is a complex multisystem disorder, representing the most common form of genetic obesity. The aim of this study was the analysis of the gait pattern of adult subjects with PWS by using three-Dimensional Gait Analysis.

Computerized gait analysis of botulinum toxin treatment in children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BTA) injection is a local reversible treatment with a wide range of therapeutic applications, including temporary reduction of spasticity. The aim of this work was a quantitative, computerized objective evaluation of BTA-induced improvement of the walking functional ability in a group of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Fifteen children with CP and 20 healthy children were evaluated.

Gait alteration of a teenager with Down's syndrome: a 5-year follow-up before and after surgery.

Aim of this study is to evaluate kinematic and kinetic aspects of gait alteration in a teenager with Down's syndrome before and after surgery. The gait pattern of the participant was evaluated quantitatively by gait analysis at different ages. In the interval between 14 and 16 years, a patella surgery was performed on the right knee joint.

Gait analysis in children affected by myelomeningocele: comparison of the various levels of lesion.

The aim of this study was to utilise the gait analysis (GA) methodology to characterise the walking act in children with different levels of myelomeningocele. To this end, we analysed 30 children (mean age 11 +/- 3 years, still able to walk without ortheses) grouped according to the site of their neurological lesion (localised from L4 down to S5); ten healthy children (mean age 9 +/- 2 years) were also analysed for comparison. Of the many kinematic and kinetic parameters provided by GA, we focused on those providing a good correlation with the level of lesion.