Kinematics and kinetics during gait in symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs of children with myelomeningocele

Smita Rao, Fred Dietz, H. John Yack

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Knee pain and early arthrosis have emerged as significant problems in young adults with myelomeningocele (MMC). The purpose of our study was to examine kinematics and kinetics during gait in symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs of children with an MMC to better understand the factors that may predispose individuals with an MMC to potentially debilitating knee problems. Methods: Seven children with L3-L4 level MMC and 8 age-matched typically-developing control children participated in this study. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were obtained bilaterally during gait. A custom-designed femoral tracking device, with established reliability and validity was used to track the thigh. The limbs in an MMC group were subdivided into 2 subgroups (n=6 and 8, symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively) based on history of pain at the knee joint after walking/weight bearing activity in the last 6 months. An 1-way analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni adjustments was used to compare lower extremity kinematic and kinetic variables between symptomatic, asymptomatic, and control limbs. The Pearson product moment correlation (r) was used to assess the relationship between variables of interest. Results: Symptomatic limbs showed increased knee flexion in stance (P=0.01) compared with asymptomatic limbs. Symptomatic limbs showed trends toward increased knee extension, adduction, and internal rotation moments (P=0.031, P=0.025, and P=0.024, respectively) compared with asymptomatic limbs. Hip internal rotation was positively associated with knee internal rotation moment (r=0.93, P=0.008 and r=0.76, P=0.08 in symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs, respectively) and increased knee adduction moment (r=0.84, P=0.03 and r=0.91, P=0.01 in symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs, respectively). Conclusions: Symptomatic limbs in children with an MMC showed increased knee flexion and trends toward higher extension, adduction, and internal rotation moments. Increased knee flexion accompanied by inadequate control of hip transverse kinematics may have significant implications for knee joint loading in this population. Level of Evidence: Level 4 (Case series with controls, motion laboratory gait analysis).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)106-112
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012

Keywords

  • adduction moment
  • knee
  • spina bifida

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Kinematics and kinetics during gait in symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs of children with myelomeningocele'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this