Abstract
Objectives
1) Describe gait parameters in healthy women walking, eyes opened and eyes closed. 2) Describe normal values of static and dynamic balance under the same conditions. The purpose of this study is to get reference values in gait and balance. This objective is to compare (in the second phase) our results with the data of patients affected by vestibular hypofunction before and after rehabilitation.
Methods
We carried out a pilot study with 22 healthy women. 3-dimensional video motion analysis system and posturography was used to measure our parameters. Our subjects walked on an instrumented walkway, giving us information about kinetic and kinematic variables (overall cadence, gait velocity, foot progression angle, stride width, stride length, stance and swing ratio). We also had measured stability variables such as postural stability index in static and dynamic conditions (fall risk). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test for matched pairs and Anova test.
Results
Overall cadence was greater on open eyes condition (x= 118,67 steps/minute; SD= 7,23) than on closed eyes condition (x= 115,93; SD=7,74). This difference was significant (p=0.019). Same result occurred in average gait velocity (p value less than 0.05). Postural stability index in open eyes conditions was significantly better than in closed eyes conditions (p value less than 0.05). The others variables measured were determined and no significant differences were found.
Conclusions
In this study we set up the reference values in gait and balance parameters in healthy women. Overall cadence, gait velocity, and postural stability index are decreased in closed eyes condition.
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