One of the most poorly understood co-morbidities associated with obesity is the pathway to osteoarthritis of the knee. To implement appropriate preventative strategies, it is important to explore how obesity is a causal factor for osteoarthritis. The present research compared the kinematics and kinetics of a group of young obese, but otherwise healthy, adults to a group of young, healthy-weight adults, in an attempt to identify mechanical abnormalities at the knee during walking that may predispose the obese to osteoarthritis of the knee. Optotrak motion capture (Northern Digital Inc. Waterloo, Ontario) and a forceplate (AMTI OR6-7, Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc, Watertown, MA) were used to measure ground reaction forces and moments of 16 participants – 8 obese and 8 sex-, age- and height-matched healthy-weight – to analyze knee joint kinematics and kinetics at three walking speeds. Participants wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X, Fort Walton Beach, USA) for seven days to measure daily steps counts. Dependent t-tests were performed to determine group differences in ground reaction forces, knee angles and knee moments, as well as knee adduction moment impulse and cumulative knee adductor load (CKAL). The obese group walked at a significantly slower self-selected speed (p=0.013). While not statistically significant, the obese group did present with a more valgus mean dynamic knee alignment than the health-weight group. A significantly greater maximum abduction angle (p=0.009) and smaller minimum knee flexion angle at heel contact (p=0.001) was found in the obese group. A significant difference was found in the peak medial rotation moment in the transverse plane (p=0.003). A greater stance duration lead to a significantly greater knee adduction moment impulse (p=0.049) in the obese group. While significant group differences were not found in the steps per day, the obese group had a significantly greater CKAL (p=0.025). Obese young adults with healthy knees demonstrated a gait pattern of reduced medial knee joint compartment loading through greater knee abduction, medial knee rotation and a slower walking speed compared to matched controls. The ramifications of gait modifications on long-term musculoskeletal health remain unknown, but compensations may lead to increased risk of osteoarthritis of the knee.

This project attempts to translate my experience of the everyday street for the viewer; to reveal my experience of walking and looking through drawing. The everyday is an elusive and slippery subject that has been used for various and sometimes radical agendas by many writers and artists in the last two centuries. It is seen as having potential for finding the authenticity that is lacking in other spheres of human activity. However, there is an inherent contradiction for the artist engaged with the everyday in that, by definition, the mundane is barely noticed yet it can swiftly become extraordinary when examined closely. This project uses a toolbox of everyday tactics, processes and methods to explore and devise appropriate modes of representing the everyday street, while taking this contradiction into account.

This project attempts to translate my experience of the everyday street for the viewer; to reveal my experience of walking and looking through drawing. The everyday is an elusive and slippery subject that has been used for various and sometimes radical agendas by many writers and artists in the last two centuries. It is seen as having potential for finding the authenticity that is lacking in other spheres of human activity. However, there is an inherent contradiction for the artist engaged with the everyday in that, by definition, the mundane is barely noticed yet it can swiftly become extraordinary when examined closely. This project uses a toolbox of everyday tactics, processes and methods to explore and devise appropriate modes of representing the everyday street, while taking this contradiction into account.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2007. / Continuous pagination. Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Medical Research Council Social and Public Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, 2007. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

Thesis (Ed.D.) -- Teachers College, Columbia University, 1991. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: John P. Allegrante. Dissertation Committee: Bernard Gutin. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-185).

Zugl.: Konstanz, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--La Crosse, 2009. / Title from signature page. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of British Columbia, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-57). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Purdue University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-40). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.