Browsing by Author "Smith, Yvonne"

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    The three-dimensional kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in 6-10 year old typically developed children in the Cape Metropole A Pilot Study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) Smith, Yvonne; Brink, Yolandi; Louw, Q. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: A functional gait forms an integral part of life, allowing individuals to function within their environment and participate in activities of daily living. The evaluation of gait forms an essential part of a physical examination and can help screen for physical impairments. To the researchers‟ knowledge no 3D gait analysis studies of this nature have been conducted in South Africa. South African gait analysis laboratory protocols and procedures may differ from laboratories in other countries; therefore a South African data base of normative values is required to make a valid assessment of South African children‟s gait. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait of typically developed children between the ages of 6-10 years in the Cape Metropole of the Western Cape, South Africa. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study was conducted. Twenty-eight typically developed children were conveniently sampled from aftercare facilities and schools were performed in the Cape Metropole in the Western Cape, South Africa. The three-dimensional (3D) lower limb kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were analyzed. For data capture, the lower limb Plug-in-Gait (PIG) marker placement was used. Participants were asked to walk bare footed at self-selected speed. Due to a small sample size, children were also sub-divided into two groups (Group A: 6-8 years and Group B: 9-10 years) for comparison. Means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated for all outcomes, followed by statistical tests to determine significant differences between the two sub-groups for spatiotemporal parameters and kinematics. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the sub-groups for all the non-normalized spatiotemporal parameters. A statistical significant difference between the sub-groups for the mean hip rotation minimum values (p=0.036) was found. There was no significant difference between the sub-groups for any other kinematic parameter or when comparing the normalized spatiotemporal parameters. CONCLUSION: This study provides descriptive gait parameters that can be used for comparison or gait analysis purposes. Our results suggest that normalized spatiotemporal parameters showed no significant difference between the age groups and are consistent with international children‟s spatiotemporal parameters. Kinematic values showed significant changes with hip rotation. Older children had more external rotation at their hips. KEYWORDS: 3D gait analysis, walking, children, spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics.
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    The three-dimensional kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in 6–10 year old typically developed children in the Cape Metropole of South Africa : a pilot study
    (BioMed Central, 2016-12-03) Smith, Yvonne; Louw, Quinette; Brink, Yolandi
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Functional gait is an integral part of life, allowing individuals to function within their environment and participate in activities of daily living. Gait assessment forms an essential part of a physical examination and can help screen for physical impairments. No three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis studies of children have been conducted in South Africa. South African gait analysis laboratory protocols and procedures may differ from laboratories in other countries, therefore a South African data base of normative values is required to make a valid assessment of South African children’s gait. The primary aim of this study is to describe joint kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in South African children to constitute a normative database and secondly to assess if there are age related differences in aforementioned gait parameters. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted. Twenty-eight typically developing children were conveniently sampled from the Cape Metropole in the Western Cape, South Africa. The 3D lower limb kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were analyzed. The lower limb Plug-in-Gait (PIG) marker placement was used. Participants walked bare foot at self-selected speed. Means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated for all spatiotemporal and kinematic outcomes. Children were sub-divided into two groups (Group A: 6–8 years and Group B: 9–10 years) for comparison. Results: A significant difference between the two sub-groups for the normalized mean hip rotation minimum values (p = 0.036) was found. There was no significant difference between the sub-groups for any other kinematic parameter or when comparing the normalized spatiotemporal parameters. Conclusion: The study’s findings concluded that normalized spatiotemporal parameters are similar between the two age groups and are consistent with the values of children from other countries. The joint kinematic values showed significant differences for hip rotation, indicating that older children had more external rotation than younger children.