title: Lower-limb joint coordination pattern in obese subjects.
abstract: The coordinative pattern is an important feature of locomotion that has been studied in a number of pathologies. It has been observed that adaptive changes in coordination patterns are due to both external and internal constraints. Obesity is characterized by the presence of excess mass at pelvis and lower-limb areas, causing mechanical constraints that central nervous system could manage modifying the physiological interjoint coupling relationships. Since an altered coordination pattern may induce joint diseases and falls risk, the aim of this study was to analyze whether and how coordination during walking is affected by obesity. We evaluated interjoint coordination during walking in 25 obese subjects as well as in a control group. The time-distance parameters and joint kinematics were also measured. When compared with the control group, obese people displayed a substantial similarity in joint kinematic parameters and some differences in the time-distance and in the coupling parameters. Obese subjects revealed higher values in stride-to-stride intrasubjects variability in interjoint coupling parameters, whereas the coordinative mean pattern was unaltered. The increased variability in the coupling parameters is associated with an increased risk of falls and thus should be taken into account when designing treatments aimed at restoring a normal locomotion pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00040 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranavolo
authors.forename: Lorenzo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Donini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvetti
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iavicoli
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cava
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asprino
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Draicchio
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking