Effects of wearing halo vest on gait: three-dimensional analysis in healthy subjects.
METHODS
The effects of a halo vest on the gait were studied. The motions of the head, shoulder girdle, trunk, and hip were analyzed with the vest and tong either connected by bars or unconnected.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze effects of wearing a halo vest using three-dimensional motion analysis.


BACKGROUND
We have little information on the effects of halo vests on gait.


METHODS
Twenty-eight healthy male volunteers participated (age, 32 +/- 7.2; average +/- SD). The halo tong and vest were applied in a noninvasive way. Gait patterns and three-dimensional motions of the head, shoulder girdle, trunk, pelvis, and hip in control and halo vest gaits were analyzed using rectangular force plates and a VICON system (Vicon Motion System Ltd., Oxford, UK).


RESULTS
The halo vest decreased the gait speed; it increased the duration of strides and decreased the length of strides. It also decreased the motions between the shoulder girdle and the trunk, the trunk and the pelvis, and decreased the motion of the hip in 3 planes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides preliminary evidence that halo vests increase stride time and decrease stride length and reduce motions between the shoulder girdle and the trunk, the trunk and the pelvis, and decreases the motion of the hip.
Ohnishi
Kazuichiro
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan.
Miyamoto
Kei
K
Kato
Tadayuki
T
Shimizu
Katsuji
K
D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004867:Equipment Design; D005684:Gait; D006257:Head; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D009038:Motion; D009068:Movement; D010388:Pelvis; D012016:Reference Values; D012399:Rotation; D012782:Shoulder; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors