ALTERATIONS IN GAIT RESULTING FROM DELIBERATE CHANGES OF ARM-SWING AMPLITUDE AND PHASE

Objective. The purpose of the study was to reach a better understandin g of the influence of arm movement in human gait. Design. The experime nt involved the adoption of different arm-swing patterns by normal sub jects who walked in a gait laboratory. Background. The reciprocal swin ging of the arms in walking prays an important role in gait, but the d erails require further research, More insight into the role of the arm -swing in gait could be obtained by adopting different arm-swing patte rns while walking at different speeds. Method. Thirteen normal subject s were therefore requested to walk adopting different arm-swing patter ns which included, one or both arms strapped to the body, full recipro cal excursion of both arms, pace walking and swinging the arms in para llel. From measurements made at different speeds of walking, regressio ns were calculated which made-it possible to compare baser gait charac teristics of the different arm patterns, Results, Maximum velocity dec reased in all cases. In the test conditions where the arms were strapp ed, the subjects increased velocity by increasing stride frequency mor e than stride length. In the other conditions the reverse was the case . Conclusion. The experiments show that the gait pattern is very much influenced by changes in arm-swing but the effects are related to the pattern of arm-swing and the speed of walking. Relevance Arm movements should be examined in patients since their alteration may indicate a clinical manifestation of an underlying pathology or only a means of m aintaining stability in gait. In the re-education of walking, patients should be trained to swing the arms as this would help in the mainten ance of dynamic balance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.