title: The effect of hydrotherapy treatment on gait characteristics of hereditary spastic paraparesis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) is a group of neurological disorders characterised by slowly progressive increasing muscle tone, predominantly in the lower limbs, with relatively preserved power. This leads to progressive difficulties in motor control and walking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrotherapy treatment when used as a means to increase locomotor function in individuals with late onset HSP. This paper discusses the analysis of the effect on gait characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine people with HSP were asked to participate in pre- and post-hydrotherapy gait analyses. Ground reaction force and motion trajectories were recorded and used to calculate spatiotemporal gait parameters, joint angles and moments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The normalised joint kinematics and kinetics profile revealed that the biomechanics of people with HSP were similar to that of controls for most of the joints, but with lower range of motion. Walking speed increased significantly (11%) after the course of hydrotherapy. Though part of this was achieved through increased ROM there was also a further increase in hip internal rotation and in peak hip extension moment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although participants had increased walking speed and step length, it appears that hydrotherapy increases the ability to perform compensatory strategies rather than resulting in a more typical kinematic and kinetic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Yanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92-024, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roxburgh
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Institute of Healthy Ageing, Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: c.davies@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: T Claire
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D015419:Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Biomechanics; Hereditary spastic paraparesis; Hereditary spastic paraplegia; Hydrotherapy