title: Gait analysis in anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anorexia (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) are two common eating disorders, which appear to share some reduced motor capacities, such as a reduced balance. The presence and the extent of other motor disorders have not been investigated in a comprehensive way. The aim of this study was to quantify gait pattern in AN and BN individuals in order to ascertain possible differences from the normality range and provide novel data for developing some evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen AN patients (age 30.16+9.73) and 20 BN patients (age 26.8+8.41) were assessed with quantitative 3D computerized Gait Analysis. Results were compared with a group of healthy controls (CG; 30.7+5.6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  AN and BN patients were characterized by different gait strategies compared to CG. Spatio-temporal parameters indicated shorter step length, with AN showing the shortest values. AN walked slower than BN and CG. As for kinematics, AN and BN showed a nonphysiologic pattern at pelvis and hip level on the sagittal and frontal plane, with BN yielding the most abnormal values. Both AN and BN patients were characterized by high ankle plantar flexion capacity at toe-off when compared to CG. As for ankle kinetics, both AN and BN showed physiologic patterns. Stiffness at hip level was close to CG in both pathologic groups; at the ankle level, stiffness was significantly decreased in both groups, with AN displaying lower values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both AN and BN were characterized by an altered gait pattern compared to CG. Biomechanical differences were evident mainly at pelvis and hip level. Loss of lean mass may lead to musculoskeletal adaptation, ultimately causing alterations in the gait pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano - Italy; and UO Riabilitazione Osteoarticolare e Laboratorio di Ricerca in Biomeccanica e Riabilitazione, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB) - Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimolin
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: Sara Laura
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vimercati
authors.forename: Helmer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Precilios
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cattani
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabris De Souza
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Petroni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D000855:Anorexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055815:Young Adult