Stair gait is a useful activity for the assessment of knee function. The aim of this study was to determine whether knee joint kinematics and moments are affected by the choice of stair gait cycle (SGC) and the step used to measure ground reaction forces (GRFs). This was investigated through motion analysis of ten non-pathological subjects as they ascended and descended a four-step staircase. T...

INTRODUCTION K4b2 (COSMED Srl Italy) is a portable device that is considered valid and reliable for measuring oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) under laboratory conditions. OBJECTIVES Evaluate the test-retest reliability of K4b2 during walking, stair climbing and descending stairs under free living conditions. METHODS Twelve participants completed two self-selected co...

To encourage an increase in daily activity, researchers have tried a variety of health-related communications, but with mixed results. In the present research-using the stair escalator choice context-we examined predictions derived from the Heuristic Systematic Model (HSM), Self Determination Theory (SDT), and related theories. Specifically, we tested whether (as predicted by HSM) signs that en...

Temporal Activation of Core Muscles and Vasti in Isolated Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis during Stair-Stepping: A Case-Control Study

Gait measurement is of interest for both orthopedists and biomechanical engineers. It is useful for analysis of gait disorders and in design of orthotic and prosthetic devices. In recent years portable sensors have been studied as a complement to vision based (Morris & Paradiso, 2002). They have been used to measure both the kinematics of gait such as accelerations and angles as well as kinetic...

BACKGROUND We determined whether physical function and its response to exercise training are associated with polymorphisms in cytokine genes (interleukin-6 [IL-6] -174 G/C; tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFalpha] -308 G/A and -238 G/A; and TNFalpha receptors [TNFR]1 +36 A/G, TNFR2 +676 T/G, and TNFR2 +1663 A/G), in 214 older (> or =60 years), overweight (body mass index > or =28 kg/m(2)) individ...

Stair walking is a hazardous activity and a common cause of fatal and non-fatal falls. Previous studies have assessed the role of eye movements in stair walking by asking people to repeatedly go up and down stairs in quiet and controlled conditions, while the role of peripheral vision was examined by giving participants specific fixation instructions or working memory tasks. We here extend this...

Contrary to stance-phase dorsiflexion of conventional prosthetic feet, the microprocessor-controlled Proprio foot permits swing-phase dorsiflexion on stairs. The purpose of this study was to compare Symmetry in External Work (SEW) between a microprocessor-controlled foot and conventional prosthetic feet in two groups with unilateral transtibial amputation (Medicare Functional Classification Lev...

OBJECTIVES To assess the influence of occupational exposures on risk of site-specific radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, hand, foot, and cervical spine. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, data collected from men and women aged 40 years and older participating in the Clearwater Osteoarthritis Study were analyzed (n = 3436). Subjects' occupational exposures were queried using th...

The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanics and motor co-ordination in humans during stair climbing at different inclinations. Ten normal subjects ascended and descended a five-step staircase at three different inclinations (24 degrees, 30 degrees, 42 degrees ). Three steps were instrumented with force sensors and provided 6 dof ground reactions. Kinematics was analysed by a camer...