Introduction It is well established that obesity is associated with deterioration in postural control that may reduce obese adults’ autonomy and increase risks of falls. However, neuromuscular mechanisms through which postural control alterations occur in obese adults remain unclear. Objective To investigate the effects of obesity on muscle coactivation at the ankle joint during static and dynamic

Background Poor postural stability is associated with chronic ankle instability. Previous research showed an effect of foot type on postural stability. However, the specific effect of supinated feet remains unclear. Research question Our study aimed to assess the effect of foot type on postural stability, while taking potential confounding effects of body mass and body height into account. Methods

Background Oxygen (O2) cost of walking is a physiological marker of walking dysfunction and reflects the amount of O2 consumed per kilogram of body weight per unit distance walked. The onset of walking dysfunction (i.e., reduced walking speed and shorter stride length) is commonly observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD), even in the early stages of the disease. However, the O2 cost of walking has not

Purpose The coordination of the glenohumeral joint and the shoulder girdle has been known as scapulohumeral rhythm. The effects of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) are still subject to research. Former studies indicated higher amount of scapula lateral rotation to compensate for reduced glenohumeral elevation. The purpose of the present study was to confirm this mechanism and examine additional

Background: Abnormal upper limb movements frequently affect people with acquired brain injury (ABI) during walking. Three-dimensional motion analysis (3DMA) can quantify upper limb abnormality kinematically, with composite scores condensing multiple joint axes data into a single score. Research Question: Are 3DMA-derived composite scores valid (known-groups and convergent validity), reliable and able

Background The functional outcome of total knee replacement (TKR) is usually satisfying. However, patients may show functional limitations for years after surgery, which have been ascribed to impairments in balance and proprioception, mainly during standing tasks. A number of instrumentations and parameters have been used, rising confusion for clinical decisions on the assessment of patients. Research

Background Individuals suffering a sport-related concussion typically recover within 1 month; however, persistent post-concussive symptoms are known to occur beyond this period. Clinical guidelines may not be sufficient to determine if dynamic postural control is still impaired at the point of the return to play decision. Research question Do individuals with a previous sport-related concussion who

Background It has been proved that increased motion variability can be indicative of lack of stability. Despite the extensive literature on single sit to stand/stand to sit postural transitions analysis in older people, no studies to this date have assessed the sit to stand to sit (STSTS) transition variability in older adults. Research question To investigate the variability in STSTS transition during

Background Step count monitors are frequently used in clinical research to measure walking activity. Systematically determining valid days and extracting informative measures of walking beyond total daily step count are among major analytical challenges. Research Question We introduce a novel data-driven anomaly detection algorithm to determine days representing typical walking activity (valid days)

Background Profound hearing loss is a public health problem with serious consequences for patient's quality of life. Some of them, submitted to cochlear implantation, revealed various postural disorders such as balance and spatial perception disorders without detail on their vestibular status. Research question The purpose of this preliminary study was to analyze the evolution of the balance control

Background Clinicians and footwear manufacturers often advise young children to wear soft-soled footwear when they are first learning to walk. There is limited evidence as to why this advice is given, and if soft-soled shoes are as close to barefoot as thought. Research Question What are the differences in spatiotemporal measures of gait during walking and running in three common types of children’s

Background Interpretation of shoulder motion across studies has been complicated due to the use of numerous scapular coordinate systems in the literature. Currently, there are no simple means by which to compare scapular kinematics between coordinate system definitions when data from only one coordinate system is known. Research question How do scapular kinematics vary based on the choice of coordinate

Background Gait, balance, and cognitive disorders are common in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In addition, people with MS have impaired ability to concurrently perform gait/balance and cognitive tasks due to cognitive-motor interference (CMI). Clinical features of MS may affect CMI; however, the relationship between CMI and clinical features of MS remains unclear. Research Question Are clinical

Background Prior studies have shown that older adults reduced trunk acceleration when walking on a balance beam with haptic inputs provided by anchors; however, it is unknown whether these benefits would remain in the presence of a concurrent cognitive task. Research question This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a cognitive task on balance control when using the anchors while walking on a balance

Background Even in mild unilateral cerebral palsy increased internal hip rotation can be noted on physical- and gait examination. The influence of spasticity on femoral growth in the transverse plane is not clear. These deviations and asymmetry in movement pattern may negatively affect efficiency of gait and cause psychological concerns about appearance. Research question Is increased internal hip

Background High-heeled shoes are currently preferred by women due to contemporary aesthetics. However, high-heeled shoes may increase the effort required to ascend stairs and, hence, alter biomechanical performance. Research question: How do high-heel shoe parameters affect the pelvis position, lower extremities kinematics, and ground reaction force in young women during stair ascent motion? Methods

Background Although the Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) has been reported to effectively improve gait of hemiplegic patients, no study has investigated its use in chronic stroke patients. It is possible to facilitate gait reorganization by gait training with less compensation using the GEAR even in chronic stroke patients. Research question What are the effects of GEAR training on the abnormal gait

Objective To compare recovery kinematics following trip-simulated perturbation during gait between three groups: adults without knee Osteoarthritis (OA) and adults with OA, scheduled and not scheduled for Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Methods People with OA scheduled for TKR (TKR group; N = 19) and not scheduled (NTKR group; N = 17) were age-matched with People without OA (N = 19). Outcome measures

Background A motor-assisted elliptical trainer is being used clinically to help individuals with physical disabilities regain and/or retain walking ability and cardiorespiratory fitness. Unknown is how the device’s training parameters can be used to optimize movement variability and regularity. This study examined the effect of motor-assisted elliptical training speed as well as body weight support

Background Head-worn displays (e.g., “smart glasses”) are an emerging technology to provide information, and in many situations they might be used while walking. However, little evidence exists regarding the effects of head-worn displays on walking performance. We found earlier that “smart glasses” had smaller adverse effects on measures of gait variability in the anterior-posterior direction vs. other

Background At a clinical level, the intensity of dynamic balance tasks incorporating cross-coordination movements (CCM) is typically progressed by changing the stability of the support surface on which the movement is undertaken. However, biomechanical changes in CCMs performed on stable and unstable surfaces have not yet been quantified. Research question Do movement patterns, muscle activity, coordination

Background Arm movements during gait are known to alter with increasing age during the slow maturation phase (>3years). It is unclear whether coordination between the arms and legs (i.e. interlimb coordination), which is a measure of gait quality, shows a similar pattern. Research Question to investigate age-related differences in interlimb coordination during gait in typically developing children

Background The variability of center of pressure (COP) is a measure of stability commonly examined during quiet standing. While more recent research has examined the variability of COP during walking, an adequate comparison between shod and unshod walking conditions has yet to be made. Research question What is the influence of athletic footwear on the variability of COP displacement during walking

Background The paper-grip-test (PGT) involves pulling a small card from underneath the participant’s foot while asking them to grip with their hallux. The PGT is shown to be effective in detecting foot muscle-weakening but its outcome is operator-dependent. To overcome this limitation, an enhanced PGT (EPGT) is proposed that replaces the pass/fail outcome of the PGT with a continuous measurement of

Background Despite studies showing that gait is affected in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), it remains unclear whether gait oxygen consumption is altered. Research Question The aims of the present study were to compare energy consumption during gait between subjects with AIS and healthy controls, and to examine the effect of brace use on gait energy expenditure. Methods This prospectively designed

Background Mobility aids are commonly prescribed to offload an injured lower extremity. Device selection may impact stance foot loading patterns and foot health in clinical populations at risk of foot ulceration. Research questions Two questions motivated this study: How does device selection influence peak plantar and regional (rearfoot, mid foot and forefoot) foot forces on the stance foot? Does

Background The robust identification of initial contact (IC) and toe-off (TO) events is a vital task in mobile sensor-based gait analysis. Shank attached gyroscopes in combination with suitable algorithms for data processing can robustly and accurately complete this task for gait event detection. However, little research has considered gait detection algorithms that are applicable to different locomotion

Background Flexed knee gait is a common gait dysfunction in individuals with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) and is often addressed with single event multilevel surgery (SEMLS). SEMLS has been shown to have positive short-term effects especially on sagittal knee joint kinematics with less knee flexion during stance phase. However, mid- and long-term observations are rare, and results are reported

Background X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) represents the most common genetic form of rickets featuring profound hypophosphatemia with associated skeletal and non-skeletal manifestations. Early onset gait disturbances contribute strongly to the burden of disease. However, no study has comprehensively characterized naturally occurring gait deviations in pediatric patients with XLH. Research questions

Background Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) exhibit impaired bimanual coordination, gait control, and whole body movement control. Intensive upper extremity training has been found to be effective for improving upper extremity function. However, the effectiveness of the intensive upper extremity training on whole body movement control is not known. Research question The present

Background Recent decades have seen increased interest in how anxiety–and associated changes in conscious movement processing (CMP)–can influence the control of balance and gait, particularly in older adults. However, the most prevalent scale used to measure CMP during gait (the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale (MSRS)) is generic (i.e., non-gait-specific) and potentially lacks sensitivity in this

Background Poor postural balance in the upright position is strongly correlated to morbidities, such as falls in older adult populations and to lower limb injuries in the younger populations. Good postural balance depends on muscular strength and the integration of neurological and muscular feedback mechanisms throughout the body. Since the interface with the ground is the plantar surface of each foot

Background The popularity of inertial sensors in gait analysis is steadily rising. To date, an application of a wearable inertial sensor system for assessing gait in hip osteoarthritis (OA) has not been reported. Research question: Can the known kinematic differences between patients with hip OA and asymptomatic control subjects be measured using the inertial sensor system RehaGait®? Methods The patients

Background Minimum Toe Clearance (MTC) is defined as the minimum vertical distance between the lowest point under the front part of the foot and the ground, during mid-swing. Low values of MTC and walking on inclines are both related to higher probability of tripping and falling in lower limb amputees. New prosthetic designs aim at improving MTC, especially on ramps, however the real effect on MTC

Background Low back, pelvic, and lower extremity pain are common during and after pregnancy. Understanding differences in mechanics between pregnant and non-pregnant females is a first step toward identifying potential pathological mechanisms. The primary purpose of this study was to compare joint kinetics and muscle activation during gait between females during and after pregnancy to nulliparous females

Background Ankle–foot orthoses with plantarflexion resistance (AFO-Ps) improve knee flexion in the stance phase on the paretic side in patients with hemiparesis. However, AFO-Ps decrease ankle power generation in the late stance phase and do not improve the knee flexion in the swing phase based on insufficient push-off at the late stance, resulting in lower toe clearance. Research question This study

Background Studies have found that toe-in gait reduced the peak knee adduction moment (KAM) during early stance, while toe-out gait reduced the peak KAM during late stance. However, some other studies found that toe-in or toe-out gait could reduce the KAM throughout stance phase. There is still a divergence of opinion on the use of toe-in or toe-out gait for reducing the KAM. Research question This

Background Typically, people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) progress to develop a gait pattern that is characterized by quick, short and shuffling steps. Gait cycle is altered and lacks definition and fluidity. Gait training combined with a variety of feedback modalities for PD are usually based on non-immediate and externally-based cues but none of these provide real-time feedback on gait quality and

Background Novel designs of lateral wedge insoles with arch support can alter walking biomechanics as a conservative treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. However, variations in foot posture may influence individual responses to insole intervention and these effects are not yet known. Research question How does foot posture influence biomechanical responses to novel designs of lateral wedge insoles

Background One of the research interests with regard to accelerometry is the evaluation of physical activity bout under free-living conditions. Research question This study aimed to examine the effect of treatment interruption on the estimation of heart rate (HR) response to moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) bout. Methods Twenty-five young women performed at least 30 min of MVPA

Background The goal of valgus knee brace treatment is to reduce medial knee joint loading during walking, often indicated by external knee adduction moment (KAM) measures. However, existing healthy-subjects studies have been equivocal in demonstrating KAM reduction with valgus knee bracing. Research question What are the immediate effects of valgus bracing at different tension levels on KAM during

Background Surface topography can be used for the evaluation of spinal deformities without any radiation. However, so far this technique is limited to posterior trunk measurements due to the use of a single posterior camera. Research question Purpose of this study was to introduce a new multi camera surface topography system and to test its reliability and validity. Methods The surface topograph uses

Background The effect of tibiofemoral geometry on musculoskeletal function is important to movement biomechanics. Research question We hypothesised that tibiofemoral geometry determines tibiofemoral motion and musculoskeletal function. We then aimed at 1) modelling tibiofemoral motion during normal activity as a function of tibiofemoral geometry in healthy adults; and 2) quantifying the effect of tibiofemoral

Background The optimal management of impaired knee joint function in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) remains a significant and ongoing challenge in paediatric orthopaedic surgery. Research question What are the clinical and functional outcomes after operative and non-operative orthopaedic interventions for knee joint impairment in patients with CP? Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Approximately half of the 2.3 million people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) will fall in any three-month period. Currently clinicians rely on self-report measures or simple functional assessments, administered at discrete time points, to assess fall risk. Wearable inertial sensors are a promising technology for increasing the sensitivity of clinical assessments to accurately predict fall

Background Altered gluteus minimus (GMin) activity has been identified in people with hip osteoarthritis (OA) during gait with some evidence of altered gluteus medius (GMed) activity in patients with advanced OA. It is not known whether these muscles also exhibit altered activity during other functional tasks. Research question Does gluteal muscle activity during stepping tasks differ between people

Back ground Achondroplasia is characterised by a shorter appendicular limb to torso ratio, compared to age matched individuals of average stature (controls). Despite the well documented shorter leg length of individuals with compared to controls, there are few complete descriptions of gait kinematics reported for the population. Aim The aim of this study was to report the spatio-temporal and kinematic

Background The spring-mass model is commonly used to investigate the mechanical characteristics of human running. Underlying this model is the assumption of a linear force-length relationship, during the stance phase of running, and the idea that stiffness can be characterised using a single spring constant. However, it remains unclear whether the assumption of linearity is valid across different running

Background Reactive balance recovery evokes a negative peak of cortical electroencephalography (EEG) activity (N1) that is simultaneous to brainstem-mediated automatic balance-correcting muscle activity. This study follows up on an observation from a previous study, in which N1 responses were larger in individuals who seemed to have greater difficulty responding to support-surface perturbations. Research

Background Determining adherence with orthoses is important for clinicians prescribing devices. Measuring orthotic use often relies on patient recall which has poor agreement with objective measures. Measuring step count whilst wearing an orthosis could help objectively quantifying adherence. The Odstock Drop Foot Stimulator (ODFS) Pace, used in foot drop, has an integral activity logger which provides

Background For individuals who never achieve independent standing, rehabilitation is focused on trunk posture and balance control. Visual biofeedback has the potential to augment sitting balance training, however previous work in this area has been limited to standing. Research question To what extent do different types of visual biofeedback influence trunk sway in sitting? Methods Twelve healthy young

Background Understanding lower limb kinematics and postural control in different directions of single-leg landings is critical to evaluate postural control and prevent lower limb injuries. However, foot and ankle kinematics and postural control during single-leg landings in different directions are less known. Research question Does the difference in the direction of single-leg landing affect the foot

Background Core muscles play an important role in lower limb stability and alignment, with their weakness being associated with poor alignment and, consequently, with injuries. Despite muscle structure being critical to muscle strength production, we did not find studies associating the morphology of the core muscles and lower limb alignment during functional tasks. Research question Is there association

Background Inertial sensors can detect between-limb asymmetries in shank angular velocity (SAV) during loading response of walking in individuals with ACL reconstruction (ACLR), which may be indicative of abnormal knee joint loading. However, it is unknown whether these SAV asymmetries would exist up to 6 months post-ACLR and how they differ from SAV asymmetries in uninjured healthy subjects. Research

Background Unconstrained limits of stability assessment reveals aspects of volitional postural sway control that are inaccessible by other means. Prior versions of this assessment include instructions to sway towards predefined targets, and may not capture the full capability of the individual. Research question This study sought to establish the test-retest reliability of a novel limits of stability

Background When landing from a jump or a drop, muscles contract before touchdown to anticipate imminent collision with the ground, soften ground contact and allow to return to a stable standing position without stepping or rebounding. Research question This study assesses the effect of the unsteadiness of the environment on the motor control of landing. The ‘unsteady environment’ was induced by asking

Background This paper updates our 2011 systematic review on the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis (3DGA). Research question What is the current evidence base pertaining to the clinical efficacy of 3DGA? Methods We identified English language articles published from September 2009 to October 2019 reporting primary research that used typical motion analysis laboratory

Background Subjects with transfemoral amputation (TFA) show an asymmetric gait pattern associated with a decreased ability to recover mechanical energy and an increased metabolic cost of walking. Research question This study aimed to identify the spatio-temporal and kinematic gait variables correlated with mechanical energy values in subjects with TFA and to observe the ability of the identified parameters

Background Reaction time task performance using electromyography (EMG) has been widely studied in the evaluation of motor responses. However, specific testing conditions with tray usage and the reliability of the bilateral trunk muscle reactions have not been proven. Research Questions Are there internal consistencies of the reaction times for a particular condition, such as a handheld task, among

Background The anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) associated with step initiation are impaired in obese patients (e.g. longer duration, greater lateral center of pressure excursion). This could arise from the known altered internal representation of the body in obese individuals as this representation is crucial for enhancing the processing of foot cutaneous inputs prior to step initiation and