Biomechanical characteristics of lower limb gait waveforms: Associations with body fat in children.

Background: Childhood obesity is associated with musculoskeletal dysfunction and altered lower limb biomechanics during gait. Few previous studies have explored relationships between childhood obesity measured by body fat and lower limb joint waveform kinematics and kinetics.

Research Question: What is the association between body fat and hip, knee and ankle joint angles and moments during gait and in 7 to 11 year-old boys?

Methods: Fifty-five boys participated in the study.

The impact of body fat on three dimensional motion of the paediatric foot during walking.

Childhood obesity is commonly associated with a pes planus foot type and altered lower limb joint function during walking. However, limited information has been reported on dynamic intersegment foot motion with the level of obesity in children. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between intersegment foot motion during gait and body fat in boys age 7-11 years.

Evaluation of multi-segmental kinematic modelling in the paediatric foot using three concurrent foot models.

Background: Various foot models are used in the analysis of foot motion during gait and selection of the appropriate model can be difficult. The clinical utility of a model is dependent on the repeatability of the data as well as an understanding of the expected error in the process of data collection. Kinematic assessment of the paediatric foot is challenging and little is reported about multi-segment foot models in this population.

Effectiveness of a community-based low intensity exercise programme for ambulatory stroke survivors.

Purpose: To establish the feasibility and effectiveness of a community-based exercise programme for ambulatory patients with stroke discharged from rehabilitation.

Method: Eighteen participants were recruited 3-12 months after onset of first stroke. Using a time series experimental design, the group completed a baseline period of 4 weeks (A1), a group exercise programme of low-intensity progressive resistive exercise and functional tasks for lower limb muscles (B) and repeat assessment after cessation of exercise (A2).

Hip, knee, ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair ascent and descent in healthy young individuals.

Background: Few studies have reported the biomechanical aspects of stair climbing for this ergonomically demanding task. The purpose of this ethically approved study was to identify normal functional parameters of the lower limb during stair climbing and to compare the actions of stair ascent and descent in young healthy individuals.

Methods: Thirty-three young healthy subjects, (16 M, 17 F, range 18-39 years) participated in the study.

Changes in muscle strength and EMG median frequency after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The purpose of this study was to monitor neuromuscular changes in quadriceps femoris muscle at 1 and 3 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Changes in isometric muscle strength (MVC), voluntary activation and surface electromyogram (EMG) parameters were examined in relation to knee stability, pain and swelling in 31 patients (25 M, 6 F) mean (SD) 30(8) years. Physically inactive (RC) and sports participants (SC) acted as controls.