A Faster Walking Speed Is Important for Improving Biomechanical Function and Walking Performance in Stroke Survivors.

This study compares joint kinematics and kinetics of young stroke survivors who walk <0.79 m/s (slow) or >0.80 m/s (fast) with reference to a healthy able-bodied group and provides clinical recommendations for guiding the gait rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

The gait profile score characterises walking performance impairments in young stroke survivors.

Background: The Gait Profile Score (GPS) provides a composite measure of the quality of joint movement during walking, but the relationship between this measure and metabolic cost, temporal (e.g. walking speed) and spatial (e.

Can high-functioning amputees with state-of-the-art prosthetics walk normally? A kinematic and dynamic study of 40 individuals.

Background: Previous work has highlighted the highly functional post-rehabilitation level of military individuals who sustained traumatic amputation. Understanding how these individuals walk with their prosthesis could be key to setting a precedent for what is realistically possible in the rehabilitation of individuals with amputations.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to answer how "normal" should the gait of an individual with an amputation(s) be and can we aspire to mimic able-bodied gait with the most advanced prosthetics in highly functioning individuals?

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comparing the gait of severely injured and highly functional UK trans-tibial (n=10), trans-femoral (n=10) and bilateral trans-femoral (n=10) military amputees after completion of their rehabilitation programme to that of able-bodied controls (n=10).

Higher knee contact forces might underlie increased osteoarthritis rates in high functioning amputees: A pilot study.

High functioning military transtibial amputees (TTAs) with well-fitted state of the art prosthetics have gait that is indistinguishable from healthy individuals, yet they are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis (OA) of their intact limbs. This contrasts with the information at the knees of the amputated limbs that have been shown to be at a significantly reduced risk of pain and OA. The hypothesis of this study is that biomechanics can explain the difference in knee OA risk.

Return to Employment After Stroke in Young Adults: How Important Is the Speed and Energy Cost of Walking?

Background and Purpose- A quarter of individuals who experience a stroke are under the age of 65 years (defined as young adults), and up to 44% will be unable to return to work poststroke, predominantly because of walking difficulties. No research study has comprehensively analyzed walking performance in young adult's poststroke. The primary aim of this study is to investigate how a stroke in young adults affects walking performance (eg, walking speed and metabolic cost) compared with healthy age-matched controls.

Challenging the foundations of the clinical model of foot function: further evidence that the root model assessments fail to appropriately classify foot function.

Background: The Root model of normal and abnormal foot function remains the basis for clinical foot orthotic practice globally. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between foot deformities and kinematic compensations that are the foundations of the model.

Methods: A convenience sample of 140 were screened and 100 symptom free participants aged 18-45 years were invited to participate.

Temporal Spatial and Metabolic Measures of Walking in Highly Functional Individuals With Lower Limb Amputations.

Objective: To record the temporal spatial parameters and metabolic energy expenditure during walking of individuals with amputation, walking with advanced prostheses, and after completion of comprehensive rehabilitation compared with able-bodied persons.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Multidisciplinary comprehensive rehabilitation center.

Movement of the human foot in 100 pain free individuals aged 18-45: implications for understanding normal foot function.

Background: Understanding motion in the normal healthy foot is a prerequisite for understanding the effects of pathology and thereafter setting targets for interventions. Quality foot kinematic data from healthy feet will also assist the development of high quality and research based clinical models of foot biomechanics. To address gaps in the current literature we aimed to describe 3D foot kinematics using a 5 segment foot model in a population of 100 pain free individuals.

Inter-assessor reliability of practice based biomechanical assessment of the foot and ankle.

Background: There is no consensus on which protocols should be used to assess foot and lower limb biomechanics in clinical practice. The reliability of many assessments has been questioned by previous research. The aim of this investigation was to (i) identify (through consensus) what biomechanical examinations are used in clinical practice and (ii) evaluate the inter-assessor reliability of some of these examinations.