THE MODELING OF ADULT SPASTIC PARETIC STIFF-LEGGED GAIT SWING PERIOD BASED ON ACTUAL KINEMATIC DATA

With the ultimate goal to better demonstrate the biomechanics of spast ic paretic stiff-legged gait, we simulated the motion of this gait dis ability, based on actual kinematic gait data. We created and applied a seven link-segment forward dynamic model to the gait kinematics of fi ve adult subjects with this gait disability as a result of stroke. Tru nk and limb segment torques developed during the affected limb's swing period of gait were calculated via inverse dynamic techniques from th e measured kinematic data and incorporated into the forward dynamic mo del to simulate motion. In each case, the simulated motion corresponde d to the directly measured kinematics. The hip and knee torques were t hen altered to predict potential resultant changes in knee flexion. Pr eliminary results suggest a stronger effect of hip torque than knee to rque on knee angle, which also qualitatively corresponded with clinica l data. This study demonstrates the feasibility of forward dynamic mod elling based on actual clinical data and provides a further means to a nalyze potential mechanisms of this gait disability. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.