Background The ability for independent bipedal locomotion is an important prerequisite for autonomous mobility and participation in everyday life. Walking requires not only a functional musculoskeletal unit but relies on coordinated activation of muscles and may even require cognitive resources. The time-resolved monitoring of the position of joints, feet, legs and other body segments relative to each

Background It is unknown what the impact of sole hardness is on young children’s gait. Yet, this feature is commonly marketed as having differing benefits for young children’s walking and development. Research question What are the differences in spatiotemporal measures of gait during walking and running in three common types of young children’s footwear with a soft sole, compared to a hard sole? Methods

Background Hallux valgus orthoses are available in a wide range of designs and materials, but the effects of their design on functional performance have not been fully investigated. Research question This present study aims to comprehensively analyze the immediate effects of soft and semi-rigid hallux valgus orthoses on balance, plantar pressure, hallux valgus angle, and subjective sensations. Methods

Background The socket reaction moment (SRM) has been reported to change because of alignment changes in transtibial prosthetic sockets. However, the influence of prosthetic foot alignment on SRM remains unclear. Research question Are SRMs predictable from alignment changes of prosthetic feet? Methods Ten users of transtibial prostheses participated in this study. Under five alignment conditions (3

Background Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) exhibit altered vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF), a laterally shifted center of pressure, and an inverted foot position during walking. These neuromechanical alterations are linked with altered ankle joint loading in this population. Vibration-based gait retraining improves center of pressure positioning but effects on neuromechanical

Background Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations (ITTAs) are asymmetrical in quadriceps strength. It is unknown if this is associated with gait performance characteristics such as walking speed and limb symmetry. Research question Are quadriceps strength asymmetries related to walking speed and/ or gait asymmetries in ITTAs? Methods Knee-extensor isometric maximum voluntary torque (MVT)

Background In boys with DMD, muscle weakness progresses in a proximal to distal pattern, leading to compensatory gait strategies, including hyperlordosis and equinus, that increase energy cost and accelerate the loss of walking capacity. Research Question The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in the energy cost of walking that occur with disease progression and to determine the optimal

Background Increasing cadence in running has been advocated as a means to improve performance and reduce impact forces. Although acoustic pacing can be used for this purpose, it might by itself lead to an increased impact force, which would counteract the decrease in impact force that is being pursued by increasing the cadence with acoustic pacing and thus have a counterproductive effect. Research

Background Assistive devices provide balance and stability to those who require a greater base of support, especially during ambulation or in tasks essential to functional daily living. In ambulatory assistive device use, center of pressure (COP) movement as one of the measurements of postural control is a factor when assessing fall risk, with an overall goal of maintaining postural equilibrium. There

Background Turning is a component of gait that requires planning for movement of multiple body segments and the sophisticated integration of sensory information from the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems. These aspects of turning have led to growing interest to quantify turning in clinical populations to characterize deficits or identify disease progression. However, turning may be affected

Background Weight-bearing asymmetry biasing the non-paretic leg is common following stroke. However, little is known as to how lateropulsion impacts on the weight-bearing patterns adopted in standing by individuals following stroke. Research Questions (1) Are there differences in weight-bearing asymmetry patterns observed in standing in people with lateropulsion relative to healthy controls; (2) What

Background Continuous relative phase (CRP) has gained popularity to assess movement performances in recent decades. Research question The application and interpretation of CRP in common movements such as running and jumping are still unclear. Methods This systematic review summarized the current applications, methodology, parameters of interest, and interpretations of CRP variables in running and jumping

Background The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of modified Dynamic Gait Index (mDGI) has not yet been determined for People with Neurological Disorders (PwND). Research question To establish the MCID of the mDGI to determine clinically meaningful improvement in balance and gait in PwND. Methods In this longitudinal study from a randomised clinical trial, 55 participants both in and outpatients

Background Although the effects of medial wedge insoles on lower limb biomechanics have been investigated, information about the effects of different magnitudes of medial posting is still lacking. Research question What are the dose-response effects of medial wedge insoles with postings varying between 0 °, 3 °, 6 °, and 9 ° of inclination on the lower limb biomechanics during walking and running in

Background To be able to use muscluloskeletal models in clinical settings, it is important to understand the effect of walking speed on joint and muscle force estimations in different generic musculoskeletal models. Research question The aim of the current study is to compare estimated joint and muscle forces as a function of walking speed between two standard approaches offered in two different modelling

Background Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction provides successful clinical outcomes. However, reconstruction cannot restore normative lower limb mechanics during running. While numerous studies have investigated running characteristics in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, no study has been compared foot strike patterns among them. Research question If ground reaction

Background Despite strong evidence that walking speed and forward propulsion decline with increasing age, their relationship is still poorly understood. While changes in the ankle and hip mechanics have been described, few studies have reported the effect of ageing on the whole leg’s contribution to propulsion. Research question The aim of this study was to investigate age-related changes in the work

Background Although functional methods determining the hip joint center (HJC) are becoming increasingly popular, no systematic investigation has been conducted yet to assess the reliability of functional hip joint calibration in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Research question What is the most reliable way to conduct functional calibration motions for estimating HJC location in children with CP

Background Amongst the literature researching the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on postural control in healthy adults, many studies have used the Borg scales to document the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and have shown a broad range of RPE values. Our main aim was to map fatigue-induced RPE values in included publications. Secondary aims were to summarize the preference and purpose for the

Background Radiographic factors estimate the state of the static knee joint, and it is questionable how well these parameters reflect the dynamic knee condition. The external knee adduction moment (KAM) during gait is known to be a kinetic variable contributing to osteoarthritis progression. This study aims to investigate the effects of static radiographic parameters on the dynamic KAM during gait

Background There is insufficient information on muscle co-activation in the upper limbs to help healthcare providers develop treatment programs for patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP). Research question Is the degree of muscle co-activation greater in adults with DCP than in healthy individuals? Does the use of different arm weights modify co-contraction in individuals with PCD? Methods Fourteen

Background Chronic adaptations, including persistent sensorimotor deficits, remain in individuals with a history of ankle instability, resulting in altered postural control strategies during functional tasks such as gait, running, or landing. However, we do not know the contribution of the altered somatosensory input on postural control strategies during a dynamic balance task such as the Star Excursion

Background Treadmill desks have been used extensively to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary time in the work environment. However, dual tasking, such as simultaneously walking and performing a cognitive task, may result in diminished performance in one or both tasks. Research question Do age and sex impact ability to dual task while using a treadmill desk at a preferred walking speed

Background The longitudinal stability of sagittal gait patterns in diplegic cerebral palsy (CP), stratified using the Rodda classification, is currently unknown. Research question What is the trajectory of sagittal plane gait deformities as defined by the Rodda classification in a large cohort treated with orthopedic surgery guided by gait analysis? Methods A retrospective study utilized gait analysis

Background Quantitative assessments of activities of daily living (ADL) play an essential role in evaluating the impact of disease and interventions on people's quality of life. Motion capture systems traditionally used for quantitative assessments of postural transitions and movement associated with ADL are limited to the laboratory setting. Wearable accelerometers can remove these limitations and

Background The analysis of biomechanical parameters derived from the body center of mass (BCoM) 3D motion allows for the characterization of gait impairments in people with lower-limb amputation, assisting in their rehabilitation. In this context, magneto-inertial measurement units are promising as they allow to measure the motion of body segments, and therefore potentially of the BCoM, directly in

Background The impairment of selective voluntary motor control (SVMC) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) has been shown to correlate with their gait characteristics using complex 3D gait analysis systems (3DGA); however, this relationship has not been investigated using simple video-based observational gait analysis (VBOGA). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between VBOGA and

Objective Reference values utilizing the APDM MobilityLab® inertial sensor system have not been established in children and young adults ages 5−30. These values are necessary for clinicians and researchers to compare to children with balance impairments. Methods A group of 144 typically developing children and young adults from age 5–30 years completed the instrumented SWAY test during 6 test conditions:

Background Post-stroke, patients exhibit considerable variations in gait patterns. One of the variations that can be present in post-stroke gait is knee hyperextension in the stance phase. Research question What is the current evidence for the effectiveness of the treatment of knee hyperextension in post-stroke gait? Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro and CINAHL were searched for relevant controlled trials

Background Identifying clusters of physical activity (PA) from accelerometer data is important to identify levels of sedentary behaviour and physical activity associated with risks of serious health conditions and time spent engaging in healthy PA. Unsupervised machine learning models can capture PA in everyday free-living activity without the need for labelled data. However, there is scant research

Background While gait termination is challenging for children with spastic cerebral palsy (CCP), few studies have quantitatively assessed this issue. Research question What are the characteristics of center of mass (COM) and center of pressure (COP) displacement during gait termination in CCP, and how do they compare with those in children with typical development (CTD)? Methods This cross-sectional

Objectives To investigate cerebellar lobule atrophy patterns in elderly fallers (EFs) and their association with gait and cognitive performance. Background Cognitive impairments, gait, and balance deficits are major risk factors for falls in older adults, however, their neural fingerprints remain poorly understood. Recent evidence from neuroimaging studies highlight the role of the cerebellum in both

Background Control of dynamic balance in human walking is essential to remain stable and can be parameterized by the margins of stability. While frontal and sagittal plane margins of stability are often studied in parallel, they may covary, where increased stability in one plane could lead to decreased stability in the other. Hypothetically, this negative covariation may lead to critically low lateral

Background Previous work has linked the eccentricity of the net ground reaction force (GRFnet) to increased mediolateral instability during single-step voluntary and compensatory stepping responses. The present work sought to understand the extent to which such control mechanisms for mediolateral stability are present during gait. Research question How do gait velocity and step width constraints influence

Background Changes in gait due to an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) have been shown to be impacted by the sagittal plane alignment of the AFO, but there is variability in practice and lack of consensus as to how this alignment should be measured. The neutral angle is a measure of AFO alignment that has the potential to be used by various specialties that prescribe, provide, and analyze AFOs. Currently,

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with an increased risk of falls, degeneration of sensory organization, and possible increased reliance on vision for balance control. Research question The aim of this study was to assess differences in standing postural control between people with MS and age and sex matched controls during medial-lateral (ML) oscillations of the visual field, with and

Background: To maintain an upright standing posture against external disturbances, the human body mainly employs two types of postural control strategies: “ankle strategy” and “hip strategy.” While it has been reported that the magnitude of the disturbance alters the use of postural control strategies, it has not been elucidated how the level of muscle tone, one of the crucial parameters of bodily

Background We study dual-task performance with marker-free video recordings of Timed Up-and-Go tests (TUG) and TUG combined with a cognitive/verbal task (TUG dual-task, TUGdt). Research question Can gait parameters be accurately estimated from video-recorded TUG tests by a new semi-automatic method aided by a technique for human 2D pose estimation based on deep learning? Methods Thirty persons aged

Background Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with several physical impairments but investigations into balance impairments in this population are limited. Understanding balance impairments in ankle OA may help inform the management of this condition. Research question Does balance overall performance differ between individuals with symptomatic radiographic ankle OA, asymptomatic radiographic

Background This prospective study used instrumented gait analysis, patient-reported outcomes, and portable accelerometers to examine walking activity in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Research question This study aimed to provide objective data and evaluate factors associated with walking activity in adults with CP. Methods Participants with CP (ages 25–45 years) completed instrumented gait analysis

Background Static balance performance appears to detect differences between roles played in team sports. Static balance can also be influenced by the subject's height and age, and the type of test used. Research question Could the static balance profile show differences among the role played depending on the specific test evaluated and the gymnasts’ age? Methods A cross-sectional design was applied

Introduction Moderate aerobic, high-intensity and sprint running or cycling training can transiently impair postural control. However, the acute effects of modified sprint interval training (mSIT) at different muscle working modes have not yet been examined. Thus, this study aimed at investigating acute effects of time-matched eccentric (ECC) versus concentric mSIT cycling session (CON) on jumping

Background Whole-body vibration (WBV) could be an alternative training method for elderly with a high risk of falling. Research question What acute effects of sinus-like and random WBV intervention occur in this risk group and how do they differ? Methods This prospective pilot study was performed on two days separated by a one-week wash-out phase. Twelve subjects (10 women and 2 men, age 77.7 ± 5.3;

Background Gait initiation is an automatized motor program that is preceded by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). During attentional tasks, these APAs can be modulated, producing multiple APAs. However, the role of the peripheral nervous system in the regulation of these APAs is unknown. Research question The objective of our study was to investigate whether APAs are also regulated by peripheral

Background The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of induced lower limb joint restriction on plantar pressures during gait. Focusing on restricting a single joint, without the effect of other co-morbidities, would provide better understanding as to the resultant plantar loadings during gait, which would be especially beneficial in patients requiring offloading procedures. Research Question

Background The use of Instrumented Gait Analysis (IGA) for the clinical management of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in recent years. Previous systematic reviews have been completed to evaluate and summarize the evidence related to the efficacy of IGA in general. However, a focused summary of research studies on IGA for children with CP related gait disorders is needed. Research

Background Prostheses can help persons with trans-femoral amputation (TFA) regain normal function, but such individuals still exhibit gait deviations expressed in gait asymmetries. We apply a specialised tool, the Symmetry Function (SF), to evaluate the symmetry of walking in terms of kinematic and dynamic variables and to identify areas with large side deviations (exceeding defined ±5% threshold)

Background Individuals with chronic low back pain demonstrate impaired responses to volitional and externally-generated postural perturbations that may impact stability whilst performing activities of daily living. Understanding how balance may be impaired by strategy selection is an important consideration during rehabilitation from low back pain to prevent future injurious balance loss. Research

Introduction Greater double support time (DST) variability is associated with falls and memory decline. The underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of DST variability are poorly understood. Simple reaction time (SRT) variability, a measure of attention-processing speed is associated with falls and dementia and, may underlie greater DST variability. The aims of this study were to examine the association

Background There is a lack of research providing a biomechanical outcome following 1st MTPJ replacement for hallux rigidus. Despite this, 1st MTPJ replacement continues to be an alternative surgical option to fusion for this painful debilitating condition. Several studies do consider the patient reported outcomes which are subjective. Research Question The objective of this study is to provide an in

Background The oxygen cost of walking (Cw) represents the energy expenditure involved in walking, which is a major concern when quantifying physical activity in stroke. Recent studies have reported that Cw may be estimated accurately with a prediction equation using the self-self-selected walking speed (Sfree). Research question To evaluate the validity of Cw estimates according to different modalities

Background Ataxia can adversely affect balance and gait and increase the incidence of falls, which puts individuals at greater risk for injury. Thus, interventions focused on balance and gait are integral in rehabilitation training. In order to determine if rehabilitation interventions are effective, we need an outcome measure to detect change. To our knowledge, no activity level outcome measures have

Background Individuals post-stroke walk slower than their able-bodied peers, which limits participation. This might be attributed to neurological impairments, but could also be caused by a mismatch between aerobic capacity and aerobic load of walking leading to an unsustainable relative aerobic load at most economic speed and preference for a lower walking speed. Research question What is the impact

Background While running, the human body absorbs repetitive shocks with every step. These shocks can be quantified by the peak vertical ground reaction force (Fv,max). To measure so, using a force plate is the gold standard method (GSM), but not always at hand. In this case, a motion capture system might be an alternative if it accurately estimates Fv,max. Research question The purpose of this study

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is reported to affect up to 70 % of cancer survivors. Despite evidence that CIPN-related impairments often translate into balance and mobility deficits, the effects on stepping and quality of gait, well-documented risk factors for falls, are unclear. Aims (i) Establish choice-stepping reaction time (CSRT) performance in survivors with CIPN

Background It is common practice to align transfemoral prosthetic sockets in adduction, due to the physiologic, adducted femoral alignment in unimpaired legs. An adducted femoral and socket alignment helps tightening hip abductors to stabilize the pelvis and reduce pelvic and trunk related compensatory movements. Research question How do different socket adduction conditions (SAC) of transfemoral sockets

Background Patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) exhibit an increased step width (SW) during walking before and up to 2 years after total hip arthroplasty. Wider SW is associated with a reduction in the external knee adduction moment (KAM), but there is a lack of research regarding the effect of SW on the hip adduction moment (HAM). Research question Is a wider SW an effective compensatory mechanism

Background Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have poor postural control. Horseback riding (HR) is an alternative treatment shown to improve postural control among children with CP. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the underlying mechanisms responsible for improving postural control during HR. Research question What are the three-dimensional biomechanical responses of the trunk

Background The bulk of relevant studies compare individual or very few sports and on small samples of athletes. This requires extensive analysing postural stability in various sports. Research question The main objective of our study was to identify the features of postural stability in a normal vertical stance in athletes of various kinds. Methods This study compares postural stability in a normal

Background Increased terminal swing knee flexion (TSKF) impacts on step length, walking efficiency and may lead to knee flexion in stance in cerebral palsy (CP). Surgical lengthening of the hamstrings is often used to address this issue, but outcomes are inconsistent. There is an established association between TSKF and functional shortening or reduced lengthening velocity of the hamstrings. However