Quantitative assessment of circumduction, hip hiking, and forefoot contact gait using Lissajous figures

Abstract

Itoh N, Quantitative assessment of circumduction, hip hiking, and forefoot contact gait using Lissajous fi gures. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2012; 3: 7884. Objective: To quantitatively assess gait abnormalities using Lissajous fi gures obtained from three-dimensional motion analysis of treadmill gait, with the goal of applying the fi ndings to the treatment of gait disorders. Methods: Thirty-nine healthy subjects and 30 hemiplegic patients were studied. Treadmill gait analysis was conducted using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Using the Lissajous fi gures obtained from the gait analysis, quantitative indexes were developed for three gait abnormalities: circumduction, hip hiking, and forefoot contact. The indexes were validated through comparison with observational assessment by physiotherapists with expertise in gait analysis. Results: The values obtained for all the indexes were signifi cantly higher in hemiplegic patients compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis was conducted between the index values and observational scores for each gait abnormality, yielding Spearman's rank correlation coeffi cients of −0.82 for circumduction, 0.64 for hip hiking, and 0.84 for forefoot contact (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We successfully developed objective quantitative indexes for gait abnormalities, which were not infl uenced by rater bias.