The relationship between frontal plane gait variability and ankle range of motion in middle-aged and older persons with neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between frontal plane ankle range of motion (ROM) and frontal plane control during gait, as determined by step-width variability and step-width range, among middle-aged and older persons with peripheral neuropathy (PN).


METHODS
Observational study of 39 adults (mean age +/- standard deviation = 64.7 +/- 9.5 yrs) with PN. Demographic and clinical data, including measures of ankle ROM and PN severity, and spatiotemporal gait measures were obtained. Correlation and multivariate analyses were used to identify relationships between measures of ankle ROM and frontal plane gait variability.


RESULTS
Significant negative correlations were identified between frontal plane ankle ROM (inversion + eversion), and step-width variability (r = -0.344; P = 0.032) and step-width range (r = -0.386, P = 0.015). Multivariate analyses showed that the relationship between ankle ROM and step-width variability weakened in the presence of PN severity, with ROM and PN severity both demonstrating trends toward independent associations with step-width variability (P = 0.086 and 0.083, respectively; adjusted r2 = 0.145). However, ankle ROM demonstrated a stronger association with step-width range than did PN severity (P = 0.043 and 0.098, respectively; adjusted r2 = 0.169).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased frontal plane ankle ROM is associated with decreased variability in frontal plane foot placement during gait among middle-aged and older persons with PN, a population at high risk for falls.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Sarah E
SE
Carter
James K
JK
Richardson
Sibylle
S
Thies
Trina
T
DeMott
James A
JA
Ashton-Miller
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012044:Regression Analysis