Article

While healthy gait is often characterized as, or assumed to be symmetric,
consistent asymmetries often exist. In this study, we test the hypotheses that
asymmetries in lower limb function, as measured by ground reaction force
characteristics, may be explained by differences in foot orientation or limb
dominance. Peak ground reaction force (GRF) measurements, and impulses were
obtained for thirty-six healthy subjects with simultaneous kinematic estimates of
foot posture. Three gait tasks were performed: subjects walked i) with normal
foot orientation, ii) with feet laterally rotated (outward), and iii) with feet
aligned in the direction of movement (straight). All subjects reported right limb
dominance. Our results indicate that vertical, braking and propulsive GRF
components are largely symmetrical, but significant asymmetries exist in the
mediolateral peak forces and impulses with higher lateral and lower
medially-directed GRF components being generated by the dominant right limbs.
While foot orientations used during the different tasks do explain some
differences in mediolateral peak forces and impulses, foot orientation did not
explain this variation within normal walking. We conclude that limb dominance is
a better predictor of asymmetry in force generation than foot posture.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS