Effect of Upper Extremity Splinting on Walking Speed and Cadence

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 PhD candidate of Sports Biomechanics, Department of Sports Physiology and Biomechanics, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Sports Biomechanics, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

4 Professor, Department of Sports Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aims: Upper extremity movements and hands can alter or interfere with walking patterns, but they are usually ignored in gait analyses. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of upper extremity splinting on walking speed and cadence.
Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy individuals (Mean±SD: 29.56±5.34years, BMI: 24.06±3.25 kg/cm2) were asked to walk in front of the Vicon motion analysis system at their usual speed and then at the same speed with the dominant and then non-dominant hand position on the splint. Then, using MATLAB software, data were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean and SD), Shapirovik test (to check the normality of data distribution), and paired t-test to compare walking speed and cadence.
Results: The results of the t-test showed a significant difference between the normal swing and dominant hand position in the splint as well as the natural swing and the non-dominant hand position in the splint in the moving average variable walking speed. However, in terms of cadence, despite the mean decrease, there was no significant difference between any of the conditions and patterns compared to the natural pattern. (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be suggested that sling should not be used to maintain normal walking speed in unnecessary cases in different patients, because these individuals may experience changes in walking patterns, imbalances, and falls due to increased walking speed.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 9, Issue 1
April 2020
Pages 252-258

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 February 2020
  • Revise Date: 10 March 2020
  • Accept Date: 11 March 2020
  • First Publish Date: 20 March 2020

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