Frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics during walking in boys who are overweight versus healthy weight.
OBJECTIVE
To compare frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics during walking in adolescent boys who were overweight (OW) versus healthy weight (HW).


METHODS
Fourteen boys (7 considered HW, body mass index for age <85th percentile; age 10.8 +/- 0.7 years; 7 considered OW, body mass index for age >95th percentile; age 12.0 +/- 0.7 years) participated. Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected during walking at self-selected speeds. Group means were compared using Student's t tests (alpha = 0.05).


RESULTS
Significant differences were found in timing of rearfoot motions and moments, amplitude of knee motion peaks, timing of knee moment peaks, and timing and amplitudes of peak hip motion and moments.


CONCLUSIONS
Boys who were OW collapsed into hip adduction and knee valgus during stance and attempted to compensate with rearfoot inversion. Observed differences in frontal plane kinematics during walking suggest that boys who are OW have increased risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunction.
Department of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. grossmcmillana@ecu.edu
Amy Gross
AG
McMillan
Nancy L
NL
Auman
David N
DN
Collier
D S
DS
Blaise Williams
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005684:Gait; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D050177:Overweight; D016138:Walking