title: Gait analysis of patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication.
abstract: METHODS
  The gait of patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication was analyzed before and after surgery using a ground reaction force plate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the gait characteristics of patients with neurogenic intermittent claudication, to evaluate quantitatively their gait improvement after surgical treatment, and to examine the differences in gait characteristics and postoperative improvement among different types of neuropathy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  A number of reports have been published on the pathophysiology or treatment of neurogenic intermittent claudication. However, almost no detailed reports exist on the gait abnormalities associated with this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 60 lumbar canal stenosis patients with intermittent claudication who underwent surgery at the authors' hospital. A ground reaction force plate was used for the analysis, and factors related to time and distance (speed, stride, interval, and pitch) were analyzed, as well as factors related to the style of walking (symmetry, reappearance, smoothness, sway, rhythm, and impact).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery, there were abnormalities of various factors related to the style of walking soon after the patients began to walk. Gait analysis also showed that the pattern of gait abnormality and its improvement after surgery varied depending on the type of neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gait analysis permits objective and quantitative evaluation of the gait characteristics of patients with lumbar canal stenosis and is useful for evaluating responses to surgical treatment in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. suda@murayama.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saitou
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibasaki
authors.forename: Nobutoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology