title: Efficacy of a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force on low back load during level walking in elderly persons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of lumbosacral and spinal orthoses on low back pain and gait are not exactly clear. We previously developed a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force on low back load to decrease such load, and confirmed its positive effects during level walking in healthy young adults. Therefore, we aimed to determine the efficacy of this trunk orthosis during level walking in healthy elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen community-dwelling elderly subjects performed level walking at a self-selected speed without an orthosis, with our orthosis, and with a lumbosacral orthosis. Kinematic and kinetic data were recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, and erector spinae activity was recorded by electromyography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing the three conditions, our orthosis showed the following effects: it decreased the peak extension moment, increased the peak flexion moment, decreased the lateral bending angle, increased the peak thoracic extension angle, and had significantly lower erector spinae activity and significantly larger peak pelvic forward tilt angles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our orthosis with joints providing resistive force decreased low back load and modified trunk and pelvis alignments during level walking in healthy elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Technology, Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics and Assistive Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata; Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katsuhira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi.
authors.forename: Shinno
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.affiliation: International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Kawamura-Gishi Company, Ltd., Osaka.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Arito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yozu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005684:Gait; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016138:Walking
keywords: biomechanics; gait; joint moment; low back pain; motion analysis; orthosis