Comparison of three methods for estimating vertical displacement of center of mass during level walking in patients

Mandyam A. Thirunarayan, D. Casey Kerrigan, Marco Rabuffetti, Ugo Della Croce, Meera Saini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three methods of estimating the vertical displacement of the center of mass (COM) during level walking were compared in 30 consecutive patients with gait disability. The methods were: (1) sacral marker method, (2) segmental analysis method and (3) force plate method. The force plate method produced data with a lower range and a different distribution than the other two methods. There was no significant difference between the data of the sacral marker and segmental analysis methods (Johnson's modified t-test, P = 0.16). These two methods are likely more accurate and sensitive methods of estimating the changes in the vertical displacement of COM than the force plate method. The segmental analysis method is prone to errors because the model and anthropometric estimations used may not be applicable to every patient. The sacral marker method is a simple, inexpensive, effective and accurate tool to estimate the vertical displacement of the COM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)306-314
Number of pages9
JournalGait and Posture
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Analysis
  • Biomechanics
  • Efficiency
  • Gait
  • Task performance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Rehabilitation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Comparison of three methods for estimating vertical displacement of center of mass during level walking in patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this