Article

To develop active pediatric orthotics, it is important to accurately predict
alterations to a straight path, such as turns. In this study we examine
anticipatory signals prior to a pre-defined turn in seven healthy children.
Subjects walked along a predefined 4.25m straight path and then made either a
40-degree turn left or right, or continued straight based on a pre-set color
panel at the endpoint. The forward center of mass (COM) velocity for the stride
prior to the turn region was 1.16+/-0.22m/s (no significant difference was seen
with respect to turn direction, p>0.05). In the stride prior to landing in the
turn region, subjects showed a significant difference in the mediolateral COM
velocity with respect to the turn direction (p=0.003 for 30% and p<0.0005 for
40-100% of the gait cycle). No significant differences were observed in the
sagittal plane kinematics of the hip, knee, or ankle during the preparatory
stride with respect to turn direction (p>0.05) when compared at 10% gait
increments. However, significant differences were observed in pelvic rotation for
10-30% (p<0.05) and 70-100% (p<0.0005) of the gait cycle. The subjects were
inconsistent in strategy used to perform a turn. In trials to the left and right,
66% and 56% of the trials were step turns, respectively. The varying turn
strategy may be a function of limited instructions provided to the child, or
ongoing development in the children's COM control. Yet even with the varying
strategies, there exist anticipatory signals that can be used to design real-time
controllers for assistive devices with readily available sensor systems.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Enfant

Langue : ANGLAIS