Loading...
3 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- Biomechanics of Gait during Pregnancy: a reviewPublication . Branco, Marco A. C.; Santos-Rocha, Rita; Vieira, Maria FilomenaDuring pregnancy women experience several changes in the body’s physiology, morphology, and hormonal system. These changes may affect the balance and body stability and can cause discomfort and pain. The adaptations of the musculoskeletal system due to morphological changes during pregnancy are not fully understood. Few studies clarify the biomechanical changes of gait that occur during pregnancy and in postpartum period.Purposes. The purpose of this review was to analyze the available evidence on the biomechanical adaptations of gait that occur throughout pregnancy and in postpartum period, specifically with regard to the temporal, spatial, kinematic, and kinetic parameters of gait.Methods. Three databases were searched and 9 studies with a follow-up design were retrieved for analysis.Results. Most studies performed temporal, spatial, and kinematic analysis. Only three studies performed kinetic analysis.Conclusion. The adaptation strategies to the anatomical and physiological changes throughout pregnancy are still unclear, particularly in a longitudinal perspective and regarding kinetic parameters.
- Three-Dimensional kinetic adaptations of gait throughout pregnancy and postpartumPublication . Branco, Marco A. C.; Santos-Rocha, RA; Vieira, Maria Filomena; Aguiar, Liliana; Veloso, António PrietoBiomechanical adaptations that occur during pregnancy can lead to changes on gait pattern. Nevertheless, these adaptations of gait are still not fully understood. The purpose was to determine the effect of pregnancy on the biomechanical pattern of walking, regarding the kinetic parameters. A three-dimensional analysis was performed in eleven participants. The kinetic parameters in the joints of the lower limb during gait were compared at the end of the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and in the postpartum period, in healthy pregnant women. The main results showed a reduction in the normalized vertical reaction forces, throughout pregnancy, particularly the third peak. Pregnant women showed, during most of the stance phase, medial reaction forces as a motor response to promote the body stability. Bilateral changes were observed in hip joint, with a decrease in the participation of the hip extensors and in the eccentric contraction of hip flexors. In ankle joint a decrease in the participation of ankle plantar flexors was found. In conclusion, the overall results point to biomechanical adjustments that showed a decrease of the mechanical load of women throughout pregnancy, with exception for few unilateral changes of hip joint moments.
- Analysis of kinematics of the lower limb during step exercisePublication . Santos-Rocha, RA; Veloso, António; Valamatos, M João; Machado, M Lourdes; André, Helô IsaThe motion of lower extremity joints is one of the mechanisms by which mechanical load is attenuated. The main purposes of this study were to characterize the motion of the right lower limb in a group of 18 women experienced in step exercise, when performing selected step patterns, and to investigate the differences that exist between four stepping rate conditions (125, 130, 135, and 140 beats per minute) and between four step patterns (basic step, knee lift, run step, and knee hop). The parameters explored were the range-of-movement and angular velocity of hip, knee, and ankle joints at initial contact and peak values. The four movement patterns analyzed presented different kinematical profiles, but no profiles were influenced by stepping rate. Stepping rate and step pattern had more effect on range of motion of ankle and knee joints, and on the angular velocity of knee and hip joints. To prevent injury, proper instruction should be provided in relation to foot placement on the step bench and on the ground.