Aim of the study
Determine the sensitivity of the GAITRite walkway system during acute foot pain
Gain experience in utilizing the GAITRite Walkway system and learn how to analyze and interpret the data
Recreate
Take previous variables of interest
Stride length
Step length
Velocity
Double support time
Single support time
PAIN!
Inflict acute pain and monitor a change in mechanics of gait
Previous research
Hypothesis
- A study looked at foot pain and how it reduced stride length, step length, and walking velocity. Also, double support time increased and single support time decreased
- Disabling foot pain exhibited reduced health-related quality of life, functional impairment, and alterations to foot function that may contribute to an increased risk of falling.
Subjects will display a decrease in step length, stride length and gait velocity at a self-selected pace after adding the painful stimulus
GAITRite Walkway system
"The GAITRite system has a strong concurrent validity and test retest reliability, in addition to being a portable, simple clinical tool for the objective assessment of gait”
METHODS and PROCEDURES
Subjects
Equipment
Procedures
Data Analysis
GAITRite Electronic Walkway
6 subjects
Webster KE, Wittwer JE, Feller AJ. Validity of the GAITRite walkway system for the measurement of averaged and individual step parameters of gait. Gait & Posture 22 (2005) 317-321.
- Data was collected and calculated using GAITRite Plus Ver. 4.7 software
- Exported data to excel
- Dependent paired t-test with SPSS
1. Collected required information
2. Subject given specific starting point and direction
3. Subject to remove right shoe
4. Repeat trial with pebble placed in the heel of the right shoe
Each subject completed 2 trials, one without the pebble and one with the pebble
Measuring sensitivity of the GAITRite Electronic Walkway based on gait changes due to a painful stimulus.
THANK YOU
Paula
Mario
Clarence
Brenden
- There was a link between foot pain and altered gait.
- Although the GAITRite was able to distinguish certain gait changes, not statistically significant.
- Link between foot pain and altered gait is adapted over time.
- Single noxious stimulus not enough
- Future attempts should increase trials and population
Conclusion
- Gait velocity decreased: 0.25 m/s
- 148.08 m/s to 147.83 m/s
- Step length on the right decreased : 3.36 cm
- 76.95 cm to 73.59 cm
- Stride length on the right deceased: 6.34 cm
- 154.37 cm to 148.03
Future Research
- SPSS (Paired Samples Test)
- Larger Population
- Randomized Control Study
- More Trials
Discussion
Limitations
- Data Analysis Error
- Simple Values
- Small sample size
- Single Subject study
- Own Control
- Acute Insult
Stance on Right (pebble): Decreased
- Single support decreased from 39.87% to 37.14% of the right stance phase
Stance on Left: Increased
- Single limb support increased from 38.21% to 39.41% of the left stance phase
- Double limb support increased from 22.06% to 23.06%