The Effect of Gait and Balance Control While Walking with Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker (CROW) in a Healthy Normal Adult: A Single Subject Experimental Study

摘要

Compensatory alterations in postural stability, or balancing, is a prevalent progressively declining ability among adults with diabetic neuropathy (Cavanaugh et al, 1993; Simoneau et al, 1994), largely due to the presence of distal polyneuropathy, which affects more than 50 percent of patients with diabetes (Adler et al, 2007). Postural stability is the ability to maintain or control the center of mass in relation to the base of support to maintain static postures and to successfully complete desired movements. Balancing is the process by which postural stability is maintained. The ability to keep the center of mass within the base of support when maintaining static postures is operationally defined as static postural stability. The ability to move the center of mass in relation to the base of support in a controlled manner when engaged in movement is operationally defined as dynamic postural stability. Studies have demonstrated that impairments in static postural stability have deleterious effects on safety and health maintenance (Winter, 1995). The epidemiology of falls indicates about 50 percent of falls occur during ambulation (Ashley et al, 1977; Gabell et al, 1985; Overstall et al, 1977; Prudham et al, 1981), likely due to the increased challenges placed on the body system with gait initiation and termination, obstacle avoidance strategies, and obstacle collision (Winter, 1995). The objectives of the present study are to evaluate the effects of the Charcot restraint orthotic walker on gait biomechanics and static and dynamic postural stability in a normal adult subject.