title: Comparison of gait between healthy participants and persons with spinal cord injury when using a powered gait orthosis-a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a powered gait orthosis (PGO) on the temporal-spatial parameters and kinematics of walking in both healthy participants and persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) using three-dimensional motion analysis to facilitate further development of such devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kinematics and temporal spatial data were obtained from three healthy participants and four persons with SCI who walked using the same design of PGO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking speed was reduced by 28% and step length by 29% in healthy individuals when walking with PGO compared with normal walking and that recorded for persons with SCI was approximately one-third that of normal walking. There were significant differences in hip and knee joint ranges of motion in comparison between walking with PGO in healthy participants and walking with PGO in persons with SCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking with a PGO by healthy participants significantly reduced critical gait parameters, and further development work is needed to produce a more effective device to match closely the gait parameters of normal walking by healthy participants. Significant differences between normal walking and that evidenced with the PGO by both healthy participants and persons with SCI were detected.
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arazpour
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic surgeon, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.affiliation: University of Salford, IHSCR, Faculty of Health & Social Care, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahramizadeh
authors.affiliation: Biostatistical Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahgozar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*