Quantitative Gait Analysis for Clinical Decision Making

The overall purpose of this study is to develop an improved gait analysis system for the real time acquisition, calculation and interpretation of joint kinematic and kinetic information using linked segment body model animation to display and visually depict deviations from normal motion and joint function.

Patients referred to the laboratory for clinical gait analysis are invited to participate in the project. If interested, subjects are informed by a study investigator of the study goals, procedures, risks and any benefits. A study investigator is responsible for obtaining informed consent. Data from normal subjects are used to establish a normative database. Data from other subjects contributes to the relevant databases of different disorders.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The overall purpose of this study is to develop an improved gait analysis system for the real time acquisition, calculation and interpretation of joint kinematic and kinetic information using linked segment body model animation to display and visually depict deviations from normal motion and joint function.

Subjects will be studied using the standard protocol used for patient evaluations in the Rehabilitation Medicine Human Motion Laboratory (GBO13 V AH). The standard protocol includes the routine collection of kinematic data, kinetic data, foot pressure data and, in selected cases, electromyography information. All collected raw data will ultimately be processed for relevant biomechanical parameters and utilized to build either a Normative Database or Non-Normative Database from which selected cases maybe extracted for teaching purposes, pilot data or software development. The project is not designed to test specific hypothesis and as such statistical analysis are not planned.

To acquire kinematics data, infrared reflective markers are taped over the joints of the lower extremities, trunk, and arms. The reflective markers are used in conjunction with the optoelectronic kinematic motion analysis system (Vicon) to allow acquisition of 3D motion data for the limb and trunk segments of subjects. Joint kinetics are determine from ground reaction forces measured by force plates embedded into the floor of the gait laboratory and requiring no specific subject setup. Foot pressure data is obtained by Fscan. Mylar pressure sensitive strips are placed in the shoe or residual limb. The strip is connected to a datalogger and battery pack that will be put on a belt and worn over the shoulder or on the waist. When electromyographic data is required, surface electrodes are placed over the motor point regions of selected muscles of the lower extremities.

After placement of markers and recording electrodes, the subjects will be instructed to walk down the gait lab runway over the force platform. Simultaneous kinematic, EMG and force plate data is collected. Between 3 and 10 strides of data are collected depending on the degree of variability in the gait pattern. When assistive devices ( canes etc.) or orthotic devices are used, the subject may be asked to ambulate with and without the gait aid.

Since the patients recruited for this study will have abnormalities in their gait, the most significant risk is falling. Therefore, subjects will be screened to ensure that they can ambulate independently over level ground. During testing, standby assistance will be present to help subjects in cases of balance loss. The risks for normal subjects are negligible.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Texas
      • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
        • South Texas Veterans Healthcare System

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults aged 18-75

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Since it is desirable to include the spectrum of gait disorders that are typically encountered in clinical practice, inclusion/exclusion criterion for patients are limited.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients must be able to walk independently with or without assistive devices.
  • Normal subjects must have no history of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders that interfere with ambulation.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Lower Limb Amputee
Gait Analysis.
Amputee and Normals and Clinical Case Study

Amputee:

Lower limb below/above knee amputee

Normals:

Health adult

Clinical Case Study:

Individual case studies

Gait Analysis.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Gait Parameters
Time Frame: Not a clinical trial. Study closed to enrollment.
Not a clinical trial. Study closed to enrollment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Balance
Time Frame: Not a clinical trial. Study closed to enrollment.
Not a clinical trial. Study closed to enrollment.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Nicolas Walsh, MD, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 1998

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 22, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 17, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 15, 2012

Last Verified

February 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 978-0011-149

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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