Abstract
Itoh N, Kagaya H, Saitoh E, Ohtsuka K, Yamada J, Tanikawa H, Tanabe S, Itoh N, Aoki T, Kanada Y. Quantitative assessment of circumduction, hip hiking, and forefoot contact gait using Lissajous figures. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2012; 3: 78-84.
Objective: To quantitatively assess gait abnormalities using Lissajous figures obtained from three-dimensional motion analysis of treadmill gait, with the goal of applying the findings to the treatment of gait disorders.
Methods: Thirty-nine healthy subjects and 30 hemiplegic patients were studied. Treadmill gait analysis was conducted using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Using the Lissajous figures obtained from the gait analysis, quantitative indexes were developed for three gait abnormalities: circumduction, hip hiking, and forefoot contact. The indexes were validated through comparison with observational assessment by physiotherapists with expertise in gait analysis.
Results: The values obtained for all the indexes were significantly higher in hemiplegic patients compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis was conducted between the index values and observational scores for each gait abnormality, yielding Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients of -0.82 for circumduction, -0.64 for hip hiking, and -0.84 for forefoot contact (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: We successfully developed objective quantitative indexes for gait abnormalities, which were not influenced by rater bias.
