The 'Entlastungsgang'. A hip unloading gait as a new conservative therapy for hip pain in the adult.
'Entlastungsgang' is a gait modification aiming to unload the hip joint by producing a modified Duchenne-limp (straight spinal column, additional lifting of the pelvis on the side of the swinging leg and a consecutive side shift of the pelvis) and a wide stance gait. Sixteen patients suffering from hip pain caused mainly by hip dysplasia were investigated. They received daily gait training for 12 h combined with intensive physical therapy as in-patients for 3-4 weeks. The external muscle torque acting on the hip joint was determined by 3D-gait analysis before, during and after the gait training. We found a reduction of the muscle torque after gait training to 77.2% of the initial value. At an average follow up of 12 months we found a persisting reduction of the muscle torque to 87. 0% at spontaneous gait that was further reduced to 81.3% of the initial value. The hip score for two components of the Merle d'Aubigne and Postel score for pain and walking was significantly improved from 7.4 to 10.8 points.
Schröter
J
J
Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Orthopädie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D48129, Münster, Germany.
Güth
V
V
Overbeck
M
M
Rosenbaum
D
D
Winkelmann
W
W
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management