Walking patterns of hip arthroplasty patients: some observations on the medio-lateral excursions of the trunk.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the angular gait kinematics of the trunk and the pelvis in the frontal plane and their amount of side-to-side asymmetry in patients after total hip replacement arthroplasty.


METHODS
The angular gait kinematics of 12 male hip arthroplasty patients (53-70 years) were compared to ten age-matched and ten young (24-35 years) male control subjects. Average step times and medio-lateral oscillation amplitudes of the pelvic and thoracic recordings were calculated for each step. Between successive steps the asymmetry ratio was computed and the mean angle around which the side-to-side oscillations occurred was compared to the angle in a symmetrical standing trial.


RESULTS
ANOVA indicated no significant side differences in relative step cycle durations. Patients and senior controls had significantly (p<0.01) less pelvis side-to-side displacements than the younger controls. No significant between-group differences could be detected for the average asymmetry ratio. However, during walking the patients showed a significantly (p<0.01) increased lateral thorax and pelvis deviation.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip replacement patients' thoracic and pelvic position is characterized by a lateral shift throughout the gait cycle, while left and right symmetry of angular movements amplitudes remain at about the same value of unimpaired subjects.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Sports Medicine, Germany. l.vogt@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
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Vogt
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Brettmann
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Pfeifer
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Banzer
D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011184:Postoperative Period