title: Do orthotic walkers affect knee and hip function during gait?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Much previous research on orthotic walkers has focussed on their ability to offload structures in the foot and ankle; however, little is known about their effects on lower limb mechanics. This study aimed to determine effects of two orthotic walkers on the biomechanics of the knee and hip joints compared to standardised footwear.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 healthy participants walked under three conditions: Walker A (Össur, Iceland), Walker B (DJO Global, USA) and standardised footwear (Hotter, UK). Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a Qualisys motion analysis system (Qualisys Medical AB, Sweden) and force plates (AMTI, Boston, MA, USA). Significant differences were seen in hip kinematics and knee moments between walkers and standardised footwear and in knee kinematics between Walker A and standardised footwear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both walkers show significant kinematic and kinetic differences compared with standardised footwear; however, Walker A appeared to produce greater deviation, including potentially damaging greater hyperextension moments at the knee.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research is needed into the effects of orthotic walkers on knee and hip joint mechanics, which should help to inform future designs of walker, with greater focus on obtaining a more normal gait pattern.
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Unit, School of Sport Tourism and the Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Unit, School of Sport Tourism and the Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myatt
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Unit, School of Sport Tourism and the Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK AChohan@uclan.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ambreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chohan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Biomechanics; biomechanics of prosthetic/orthotic devices; gait; lower limb orthotics; orthotics