Gait analysis of patients with unilateral piriformis syndrome

Abstract

Gait analysis has been widely used in the diagnosis of locomotors pathology and the assessment of treatment. But study of gait on Piriformis syndrome (PS) remain unclear. 3-D motion analysis was used to measure the kinematic and kinetic together with temporal-spatial parameters data of patients with PS and normal controls during walking. Patients with PS show significant increase gait speed and cadence, and peak extensor moments with increased flexion, abduction and internal rotation at the hip during the whole gait cycle. There were no significant differences in all the variables between the affected and unaffected limb in the patient group. These results may provide some advice on future work of rehabilitation and research of PS patients.