title: Comparison of gait between healthy participants and persons with spinal cord injury when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO) has a rigid structure which provides restricted movement at the hip, knee, and ankle joints and incorporates a pelvic section with an extended section in the lumbar region. Healthy subjects, when walking with an RGO in situ, could feasibly demonstrate the level of limitation in movement imposed by ARGO-assisted ambulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the function of the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis when fitted with the dorsiflexion-assist ankle-foot orthoses on temporal-spatial parameters and kinematics of walking in both able-bodied people and those with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi experimental design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were acquired from six able-bodied and four spinal cord injury subjects who used an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis which incorporated dorsiflexion-assist ankle-foot orthoses. Kinematics and temporal-spatial parameters were calculated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All able-bodied individuals walked with speeds which were only approximately one-third that of when walking without an orthosis. The mean step length and cadence were both reduced by 48% and 6%, respectively. There were significant differences in hip, knee, and ankle joint range of motions between normal walking and walking with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis both in able-bodied subjects and patients with spinal cord injury. There were also significant differences in the speed of walking, cadence, step length, hip range of motion, and ankle range of motion when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temporal-spatial parameters and lower limb sagittal plane kinematics of walking were altered compared to normal walking, especially when spinal cord injury subjects walked with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis compared to the able-bodied subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To produce an improvement in RGO function, an increase in walking performance should involve attention to improvement of hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematics, which differs significantly from normal walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arazpour
authors.affiliation: The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joghtaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahramizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran M.Ahmadi_bani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi Bani
authors.affiliation: IHSCR, Faculty of Health & Social Care, University of Salford, Manchester, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Health Sciences, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Loghman Hakim hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Guive
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mardani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Paraplegia; advanced reciprocating gait orthosis; sagittal plane kinematics; temporal–spatial parameters