Abstract:
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Quality of gait is a fundamental outcome measurement for the follow-up of neuromuscular patients either during the natural history of their disorder or during a therapeutic trial. Precise gait analysis can be performed using kinematic systems in lab conditions. Unless very useful, the measurement and analysis procedures are long and complex and not always suitable for clinical routine depending on the patients. Accelerometry can bring much useful information on gait without many constraints for the patient or the medical staff. This has been considered in the present work during six-minute walk tests (6MWT). The gait analysis system used in this study (Locometrix-2™) includes three accelerometers in a small (20 x 40 x 80 mm) and light (50 g) box and a data logger. The apparatus is incorporated into a semi-elastic belt, which is fastened around the subject's waist, close to the centre of gravity. Signals were recorded with a sampling frequency of 100 Hz. The recorded signals were transferred to a computer and analyzed by a specific software. Several gait variables were computed on a sample of 10 s of stationary gait: walking velocity, stride frequency and length, symmetry and regularity indexes, mechanical power and high frequency shocks. As a pilot study, the measurements were performed on 12 patients suffering from acid maltase deficiency during 6MWT. Their results were compared to normative data available from more than 400 healthy subjects and show deep modifications of their gait depending on the severity of their disorder. Accelerometry is a very simple tool to assess gait quality. Measurements will also be considered at home in further studies. MEASUREMENT OF BODY HEIGHT IN PERSONS WITH NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES ZUPAN A1, BALANTIC Z2, CERU B3 (1) Institute for rehabilitation of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA. (2) Faculty of organizational sciences, Kranj, SLOVENIA. (3) Institute for rehabilitation of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA. Information about a person's body height is needed for calculating numerous formulas such as for vital capacity. Classical method of measuring body height (client in standing position) is not usable in wheelchair-bound persons with neuro-muscular diseases (NMD), particularly not in those with physical deformations. We tried to find a new method of measuring and predicting body height on the basis of measuring certain body parameters – segments in upper and lower limbs. We chose 12 body segments, which were considered to be measured easily in persons with physical deformities. First we conducted a pilot study on 18 healthy persons, whose body heights were measured by classical method. Subsequently the study was performed in 60 persons with NMD, whose body heights were measured with a tailor's tape measure in lying position and we were trying to consider all physical deformations, above all scoliosis and flexor contractures in hips, knees and ankles. A good correlation between the chosen parameters and the body heights was found in healthy and also in persons with NMD. Statistical analysis proved that by measuring one of the newly defined parameters we can assess the body height with 0,63 reliability rate. The study has proven that by measuring the newly defined parameters the body height can be well assessed. We made a mathematical model to help us to define the body height, by using at least three chosen body parameters, those three, which correlate best with the body height and which, considering the specific physical disability and the present body deformities, can be measured most easily and objectively.
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