Evaluating the relationship between gait and clinical measures of plantar flexor function

摘要

Individuals with plantar flexor weakness often require rehabilitation and/or orthoses, which should be personalized based on level of weakness. While plantar flexor weakness can be measured via peak plantar flexion moment during gait (M-GAIT), motion analysis systems are often not clinically available. Clinical measures, such as the single-leg heel rise (SLHR) test and isometric muscle test, may provide surrogate measures of plantar flexor function during gait. However, it is currently unknown if a relationship(s) exists between such measures. This study evaluated the relationship between gait and clinical measures of plantar flexor function for typical individuals. Twenty-four participants underwent an instrumented gait analysis, from which M-GAIT was calculated. Next, participants performed an isometric plantar flexor test, from which the maximum plantar flexion moment (M-ISO) was calculated. Finally, participants performed a SLHR test, from which maximum plantar flexion moment (M-SLHR) and total work (W-tot_SLHR) were calculated. Via Pearson correlations, M-SLHR was most strongly correlated to M-GAIT (r = 0.56; p = 0.005) W-tot_SLHR was significantly correlated to M-GAIT (r = 0.47; p = 0.019). M-ISO was not significantly correlated to M-GAIT (r = 0.19; p = 0.363) M-SLHR and/or W-tot_SLHR may provide clinically-feasible surrogate measures of plantar flexor function during gait.