Journal article
Effects of increased step width on frontal plane knee biomechanics in healthy older adults during stair descent
The knee, v 21(4), pp 821-826
01 Aug 2014
PMID: 24767736
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Peak internal knee abduction moment is a common surrogate variable associated with medial compartment knee loading. Stair descent has been shown to yield a greater peak knee abduction moment compared to level-walking. Changes in step width (SW) may lead to changes in frontal plane lower extremity limb alignment in the frontal plane and alter peak knee abduction moment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of increased SW on frontal plane knee biomechanics during stair descent in healthy older adults.
Methods: Twenty healthy adults were recruited for the study. A motion analysis system was used to obtain three-dimensional lower limb kinematics during testing. An instrumented 3-step staircase with two additional customized wooden steps was used to collect ground reaction forces (GRF) data during stair descent trials. Participants performed five stair descent trials at their self-selected speed using preferred, wide (26% leg length), and wider (39% leg length) SW.
Results: The preferred normalized SW in older adults during stair descent was 20% of leg length. Wide and wider SW during stair descent reduced both first and second peak knee adduction angles and abduction moments compared to preferred SW in healthy adults.
Conclusions: Increased SW reduced peak knee adduction angles and abduction moments. The reductions in knee abduction moments may have implications in reducing medial compartment knee loads during stair descent. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of increased step width on frontal plane knee biomechanics in healthy older adults during stair descent
- Creators
- Max R. Paquette - University of MemphisSongning Zhang - University of Tennessee at KnoxvilleClare E. Milner - Drexel UniversityJeffrey T. Fairbrother - University of Tennessee at KnoxvilleJeffrey A. Reinbolt - University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- Publication Details
- The knee, v 21(4), pp 821-826
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- 1253317 / Directorate For Engineering; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000339150500006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84902145198
- Other Identifier
- 991019168585304721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Orthopedics
- Sport Sciences
- Surgery