title: Multi-segment kinematic model to assess three-dimensional movement of the spine and back during gait.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relatively little is known about spine during gait compared to movement analysis of the lower extremities. The trunk is often regarded and analysed as a single rigid segment and there is a paucity of information on inter-segmental movement within the spine and its relationship to pelvis and lower limbs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate a new multi-segment kinematic model to assess regional three-dimensional movement of the lumbar, lower thoracic and upper thoracic spine during gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in two parts: (1) to provide validation measures on the kinematic model built in commercially available software and (2) to apply the marker configuration to the spine at T3, T8 and L3 during gait analysis on 10 healthy male volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proposed model revealed excellent concurrent validation measures between an applied input angle to the recorded output angle from the kinematic model. A high reliability was observed during gait analysis, both during a single session and between sessions for all participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thoracic region of the spine should not be modelled as a single rigid segment and the proposed three-dimensional cluster is reliable and repeatable to assess the inter-segmental movement of the spine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reliable kinematic data can be collected using the three-dimensional cluster technique, thus, allowing researchers to accurately distinguish between movement patterns of healthy individuals to those with a clinical condition, and provide confidence in data acquisition during the monitoring process of an implemented rehabilitation intervention programme.
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Needham
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
authors.forename: Roozbeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naemi
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
authors.forename: Aoife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK n.chockalingam@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nachiappan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chockalingam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Spine kinematics; gait analysis; spine model; three-dimensional movement