La douleur articulaire associée à l’arthrose est un problème clinique majeur, spécialement chez les personnes âgées. L’intensité de la douleur est souvent amplifiée lors de mouvement de l’articulation et principalement lors du soutien de la charge corporelle sur le membre lésé. Malheureusement, les traitements pharmacologiques proposés sont trop souvent associés à des effets secondaires néfastes et à une inefficacité pour le soulagement de la douleur à long terme. Divers modèles murins sont utilisés en laboratoire de recherche pour des études précliniques de molécules aux propriétés analgésiques. Une évaluation comparative de la réponse comportementale douloureuse des animaux d’un modèle d’instabilité articulaire induit par le sectionnement du ligament croisé antérieur accompagné d’une méniscectomie partielle (le modèle ACLT+pMMx) et d’un modèle de dégénérescence articulaire induite par le monoiodoacetate (le modèle MIA) a permis de sélectionner un modèle approprié pour la continuité du projet. Les deux modèles ont démontré des lésions tissulaires, mais le modèle MIA a démontré une réponse douloureuse plus prononcée que le modèle ACLT+pMMx. Par l’analyse de la démarche, le modèle MIA a démontré une boiterie claire dans le patron de la démarche des animaux qui est associée à une lésion unilatérale. Le modèle MIA a donc été choisi pour la suite du projet. La problématique principale dans la recherche sur la douleur associée à l’arthrose est une compréhension incomplète des mécanismes de douleur responsables de l’induction et du maintien de l’état de douleur. Il devient donc nécessaire d’améliorer nos connaissances de ces mécanismes en effectuant une caractérisation plus approfondie des modèles animaux employés pour l’évaluation de stratégies pharmacologiques analgésiantes. Afin de bien comprendre le modèle MIA, une caractérisation des événements moléculaires centraux lors de la progression du processus dégénératif des structures articulaires de ce modèle s’est effectuée aux jours 3, 7, 14, 21 et 28 post injection. Des mécanismes hétérogènes qui modulent l’information nociceptive en fonction de la progression temporelle de la pathologie ont été observés. Les changements du contenu i spinal des neuropeptides sélectionnés (substance P, CGRP, dynorphine A et Big dynorphine) ont débuté sept jours suivant l’injection de MIA. L’observation histologique a démontré que les dommages structuraux les plus importants surviennent entre les jours 14 et 21. C’est entre les jours 7 et 21 que les lésions démontrent le plus de similarités à la pathologie humaine. Cela suggère que lors d’une évaluation préclinique d’un traitement pharmacologique pour pallier la douleur articulaire utilisant le modèle MIA, l’étude doit tenir compte de ces événements afin de maximiser l’évaluation de son efficacité. Puisque les traitements pharmacologiques conventionnels proposés pour le soulagement de la douleur ne font pas l’unanimité en terme d’efficacité, d’effets non désirés et de coûts monétaires parfois onéreux, les molécules de dérivés de plante deviennent une alternative intéressante. L’eugénol, le principal constituant de l’huile de clou de girofle, a été administré oralement pour une période de 28 jours chez des rats ayant reçu l’injection intra-articulaire de MIA afin d’évaluer son efficacité pour le traitement de la douleur articulaire. L’eugénol à une dose de 40 mg/kg s’est révélé efficace pour l’amélioration du patron de la démarche des animaux ainsi que pour la diminution de l’allodynie mécanique secondaire. De plus, les concentrations spinales de neuropeptides pronocicepteurs ont diminué chez les animaux traités. Par une évaluation histopathologique, l’eugénol n’a démontré aucune évidence d’effets toxiques suite à une administration per os quotidienne pour une période prolongée. Ces résultats suggèrent le potentiel thérapeutique complémentaire de la molécule d’eugénol pour le traitement de la douleur articulaire. / Pain is the most predominant clinical symptom associated with osteoarthritis (OA), mostly among older people. Joint movement and weight bearing often increase the pain intensity. Unfortunately, the proposed pharmacological treatments are frequently associated with side effects and ineffective for pain alleviation for long time periods. Many murine models are used in laboratories for preclinical studies evaluating analgesic compounds. A comparative evaluation of the behavioral pain responses of animals with a joint instability model induced by the transection of the anterior cruciate ligament followed by a partial menisectomy (the ACLT+pMMx model) and of an articular degenerative model induced by an intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (the MIA model) was conducted to select an appropriate model for the continuation of the project. Both models demonstrated articular lésions, however the MIA model demonstrated a clearer behavioral pain response over the ACLT+pMMx model. The gait pattern of the MIA model revealed a clear limping gait similar to that observed with unilateral OA in humans. The MIA model was chosen for the subsequent studies. An unresolved issue in pain OA research is the lack of understanding of the pain mechanisms responsible for the induction and maintenance of the pain. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to improve the characterization of animal models to effectively discover novel pain relief pharmacological treatment stratégies for OA patients. A characterization of the spinal pain molecular events during the progression of the joint degenerative process in the MIA model was performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post injection. Heterogeneous nociceptive central molecular events were observed in respect to the time course of the pathology’s progression. Changes in selected spinal neuropeptide content (substance P, CGRP, dynorphin A, Big dynorphin) began 7 days following the MIA injection. Most severe joint structural damage on histology occured between days 14 and 21 post injection. These results suggest that preclinical drug evaluation employing this model should be conducted between 7 and 21 days post injection when the lesions resemble most those of human OA. iii As current pharmacological therapy for the alleviation of joint pain does not achieve the unanimity in respect to efficacy, side effects and cost, plant derivate compounds are now interesting alternatives to improve the situation. Eugenol, the main constituent of clove oil, was evaluated for its efficacy for alleviation of joint pain in rats who previously received an intra-articular injection of mono-iodoacetate to induce the MIA model. Eugenol, administered orally for 28 consecutive days at a dose of 40 mg/kg, improved gait pattern and reduced secondary mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, spinal concentrations of pronociceptive neuropeptides were also decreased in the treated animals. No toxic effects of the compoud were identified on histopathological assessment of the various tissues. These results suggest that eugenol could be a potential therapeutic option for alleviating OA joint pain.

De nombreuses études concluent que la charge mécanique supportée par le genou, qu’elle soit reliée à l’obésité, aux sports intenses, à une altération biomécanique des structures de l’articulation ou à une exposition à des charges lourdes durant les activités occupationnelles, est considérée comme un facteur de risque important au développement de la gonarthrose. La gonarthrose reliée au travail a été le sujet de nombreuses études et plusieurs d’entre elles ont rapporté une prévalence accrue de la gonarthrose chez les travailleurs de certains domaines en particulier, comme la construction, la pose de plancher, la peinture, l’exploitation minière, l’agriculture et le travail en atelier et en milieu de la santé. Les personnes qui travaillent dans ces métiers sont exposées à des positions ou des activités nuisibles, comme travailler à genoux ou accroupi, monter des escaliers ou des échelles, transporter des changes lourdes et marcher de façon prolongée. Ces gestes surchargent l’articulation du genou, ce qui cause des modifications aux structures de l’articulation du genou ou aux adaptations neuromusculaires de patron de mouvement du genou. Ces modifications structurelles et adaptations neuromusculaires peuvent apporter des changements cinématiques à la marche qui peuvent initier la gonarthrose ou contribuer à sa progression. L’objectif principal de la présente étude était d’analyser l’effet d’une surcharge mécanique sur l’articulation fémoro-tibiale (AF-T) subie au travail lors d’une tâche de marche et comparer le patron cinématique de l’articulation fémoro-tibiale des travailleurs exposés à une surcharge mécanique à celui des travailleurs non exposés. Vingt-quatre travailleurs exposés à une surcharge mécanique et neuf travailleurs non exposés ont participé à l’étude. Les données cinématiques de la marche ont été enregistrées au niveau du genou dans des conditions cliniques en utilisant un système de suivi du mouvement électromagnétique. Les paramètres suivant ont été extraits et utilisés pour la comparaison des groupes : l’angle maximum lors du contact initial, l’angle ii maximum de flexion durant la réponse à la charge, l’angle minimum au moment de l’appui unipodal et l’étendue max-min du cycle. La comparaison des groupes pour les variables cliniques et cinématiques a été effectué par l’utilisation de tests-t bilatéraux (« Student-t tests ») et de tests ANCOVA utilisant le poids et la vitesse comme covariables. Les travailleurs exposés à une surcharge mécanique présentaient un plus grand angle de flexion de l’articulation fémoro-tibiale au contact initial, durant la réponse au chargement et à la phase unipodale et ils ont démontré une étendue d’angle moindre que les travailleurs non exposés. Nous croyons que les données cinématiques de la marche peuvent donner des idées sur les facteurs biomécaniques qui pourraient prédisposer les travailleurs au développement ou à la progression de la gonarthrose. Une meilleure compréhension de ces facteurs pourrait être un premier pas vers le développement d’une intervention plus efficace pour cette population. / Many studies agree that mechanical knee loading, either related to obesity, intense sports, biomechanical alteration of the knee or exposition to heavy load occupational activities, is an important factor in knee OA development. Work related knee OA has been the focus of numerous studies, many of them reporting increased knee OA prevalence in workers involved in particular occupational fields such as construction, floor layer, painting, mining, agriculture, shop assistant and health care employees. Persons working in these occupations are exposed to noxious positions or activities such as kneeling, squatting, climbing stairs or ladders, carrying heavy load and prolonged walking. These gestures overload the knee joint, resulting in modifications of the knee joint structures or in neuromuscular adaptations of the knee movement pattern. These structural modifications and neuromuscular adaptations can bring about gait kinematic changes that can either initiate knee OA or contribute to its progression. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of mechanical overloading on the tibial-femoral joint suffered during walking tasks at work and compare the kinematics gait tibial femoral joint of workers exposed to knee overloading (KO workers) to that of non-knee overloaded workers (non-KO workers). Twenty four KO workers and 9 non-KO workers participated to the study. Gait kinematic data were recorded at the knee in a clinical setting using an electromagnetic motion tracking system. The following parameters were extracted and used for group comparison: knee angle at initial contact, peak knee flexion angle during loading response and angle range. Group comparison for clinical and kinematic variables of interest was performed with Student-t and ANCOVA tests. KO workers had greater knee flexion angle at initial contact, during loading response and single limb support, and they demonstrated a lower angle range than non-KO workers. iv We believe that gait kinematic data can suggest biomechanical factors that could predispose workers to the development or progression of knee OA. A better understanding of these factors could be a first step toward more efficient intervention within the population.

The work done in this master's thesis, presents a new system for the recognition of human actions from a video sequence. The system uses, as input, a video sequence taken by a static camera. A binary segmentation method of the the video sequence is first achieved, by a learning algorithm, in order to detect and extract the different people from the background. To recognize an action, the system then exploits a set of prototypes generated from an MDS-based dimensionality reduction technique, from two different points of view in the video sequence. This dimensionality reduction technique, according to two different viewpoints, allows us to model each human action of the training base with a set of prototypes (supposed to be similar for each class) represented in a low dimensional non-linear space. The prototypes, extracted according to the two viewpoints, are fed to a $K$-NN classifier which allows us to identify the human action that takes place in the video sequence. The experiments of our model conducted on the Weizmann dataset of human actions provide interesting results compared to the other state-of-the art (and often more complicated) methods. These experiments show first the sensitivity of our model for each viewpoint and its effectiveness to recognize the different actions, with a variable but satisfactory recognition rate and also the results obtained by the fusion of these two points of view, which allows us to achieve a high performance recognition rate. / Le travail mené dans le cadre de ce projet de maîtrise vise à présenter un nouveau système de reconnaissance d’actions humaines à partir d'une séquence d'images vidéo. Le système utilise en entrée une séquence vidéo prise par une caméra statique. Une méthode de segmentation binaire est d'abord effectuée, grâce à un algorithme d’apprentissage, afin de détecter les différentes personnes de l'arrière-plan. Afin de reconnaitre une action, le système exploite ensuite un ensemble de prototypes générés, par une technique de réduction de dimensionnalité MDS, à partir de deux points de vue différents dans la séquence d'images. Cette étape de réduction de dimensionnalité, selon deux points de vue différents, permet de modéliser chaque action de la base d'apprentissage par un ensemble de prototypes (censé être relativement similaire pour chaque classe) représentés dans un espace de faible dimension non linéaire. Les prototypes extraits selon les deux points de vue sont amenés à un classifieur K-ppv qui permet de reconnaitre l'action qui se déroule dans la séquence vidéo. Les expérimentations de ce système sur la base d’actions humaines de Wiezmann procurent des résultats assez intéressants comparés à d’autres méthodes plus complexes. Ces expériences montrent d'une part, la sensibilité du système pour chaque point de vue et son efficacité à reconnaitre les différentes actions, avec un taux de reconnaissance variable mais satisfaisant, ainsi que les résultats obtenus par la fusion de ces deux points de vue, qui permet l'obtention de taux de reconnaissance très performant.

A lesão medular pode prejudicar a marcha de um indivíduo. Para estes casos, uma técnica de reabilitação que tem se tornado mais popular é a Estimulação Elétrica Neuro Muscular (EENM). Na marcha assistida por EENM tradicional, o controle da estimulação é realizado utilizando-se acionamento manual, um fato que ajuda a torná-la distante da marcha saudável. Este trabalho propõe um sistema que monitora variáveis da marcha - ângulos da articulação do joelho, e forças de reação do solo (retropé e antepé) - e as utiliza como entradas para uma rede neural artificial (RNA), a fim de poder controlar automaticamente a EENM na marcha. Os transdutores utilizados para medir ângulos foram eletrogoniômetros, montados nos membros inferiores do indivíduo utilizando tiras de velcro. Para medição das forças, os transdutores utilizados foram células de carga construídas com strain gages, montadas em sandálias instrumentadas. Os métodos para construção do hardware de aquisição de dados (transdutores e interface) e do software estão descritos, bem como os métodos de calibração dos transdutores. Todos os transdutores apresentaram comportamento linear. Testes iniciais foram realizados, utilizando primeiramente um indivíduo saudável, e depois dois pacientes que normalmente realizam treinamento de marcha com suspensão de peso (assistida por EENM ou não). Os resultados mostraram que o módulo de monitoramento permite gravar os dados coletados, e realizar comparações entre padrões de marcha de diferentes indivíduos, bem como diferentes estágios de reabilitação para um mesmo indivíduo. O treinamento da RNA para o indivíduo saudável apresentou uma taxa de acerto próxima de 90%, e para os pacientes lesados medulares a taxa foi de cerca de 80%. O módulo de controle apresentou resultados promissores nos testes práticos realizados, com respostas rápidas e corretas para o indivíduo saudável. Sugestões para trabalhos futuros foram dadas, para que testes práticos de controle possam ser realizados utilizando pacientes lesados medulares. / Spinal cord injury (SCI) may impair an individual\'s gait. For these cases, a rehabilitation technique that has become more popular is functional electrical stimulation (FES). On traditional FES-assisted gait, the stimulation control is performed with manual triggering, a fact that helps make it distant from healthy gait. This work proposes a system that monitors gait variables - knee joint angles, and ground reaction forces (rearfoot and forefoot) - and uses them as inputs for an Artificial Neural Network (ANN), in order to be able to automatically control gait FES. The transducers used for angle measurement were electrogoniometers, mounted on the individuals lower limbs using Velcro straps. For force measurement, the transducers used were load cells built with strain gages, mounted on instrumented sandals. The methods for building the data acquisition hardware (transducers and interface) and software are described, along with the transducer calibration methods. All transducers presented linear behavior. Initial tests were performed, using first a healthy individual, and then a couple of patients that normally undergo suspended gait raining (FES-assisted or not). The results showed that the monitoring module allows recording the data collected, and making comparison between different individuals\' gait patterns, as well as different rehabilitation stages for the same individual. The ANN training for the healthy individual presented an accuracy rate close to 90%, and for the SCI patients the rate was about 80%. The control module showed promising results on practical tests performed, with quick and accurate responses for the healthy individual. Suggestions for future works were given, so that practical control tests can be performed using SCI patients.

Title: Neuro Biomechanical principles in robot-assisted gait training for pediatric patients Background: There is a lack of data on how robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) contributes to gait changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: This research study investigated efficacy of a 4-week RAGT intervention in twelve ambulatory spastic diparesis children with CP (10.8±2.6 years old; 2 girls and 10 boys; Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III) by using computerized gait analysis (CGA); passive joint range of motion (PROM); selective control assessment of lower limbs evaluation (SCALE), and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Pre-post RAGT intervention data of children with CP was compared with the normative data curves of typically developing children by cross-correlation, and further statistically evaluated by a Wilcoxon test. Results: Significant pre-post RAGT intervention differences (p<0.05) that indicate more physiological gait comparing to the normative data curves were found. Biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior decreased activity almost across all gait cycle phases. Medial gastrocnemius decreased activity mainly in terminal stance, mid-swing, and terminal swing phases. Internal hip rotations and foot progress angles decreased almost across all gait cycle...

Einleitung: Die Ellbogengelenkdysplasie (ED) stellt eine der häufigsten Lahmheitsursachen bei jungen Hunden mittelgroßer und großer Rassen dar. Dabei wird der radioulnaren Inkongruenz eine maßgebliche Rolle in der Pathogenese zugesprochen. GUILLOU und Mitarbeiter (2011) konnten zeigen, dass eine axiale radioulnare Translation von bis zu 1 mm in gesunden kaninen Ellbogengelenken in vivo auftritt. Auf dieser Basis entstand die Hypothese einer vermehrten radioulnaren Beweglichkeit in dysplastischen Gelenken, die zu einer dynamischen Inkongruenz führen könnte, da ca. 40 % der Patienten keine messbare Stufe aufweisen. Ziele der Untersuchungen: Ziel der Studie war der Vergleich der dynamischen radioulnaren Inkongruenz bei orthopädisch gesunden und dysplastischen Hunden in vivo. Material und Methoden: Sieben dysplastische Ellbogengelenke von sechs Hunden und sechs orthopädisch gesunde Ellbogengelenke von fünf Hunden sind in die Studie eingegangen. Alle Probanden der ED Gruppe zeigten einen fragmentierten Processus coronoideus medialis ulnae. Nach Implantation von jeweils mindestens drei Markern in Humerus, Radius und Ulna erfolgte die biplanare, fluoroskopische Untersuchung der Gelenke, während die Hunde im Schritt auf einem Laufband geführt wurden. Die gewonnenen Röntgenvideoaufnahmen wurden aufgearbeitet und die gemessene Bewegung der Marker auf rekonstruierte dreidimensionale Knochenmodelle jedes Probanden übertragen. Alle Animationen wurden visuell beurteilt und anschließend die relative radioulnare und humeroulnare Bewegung an den animierten Knochenmodellen gemessen und als Translation in Millimeter und Rotation in Grad angegeben. Weiterhin wurden die Kontaktflächenmuster für die ulnare Gelenkfläche in dysplastischen und gesunden Gelenken bestimmt und gegeneinander visuell verglichen. Ergebnisse: Für die relative radioulnare Translation konnten in der Kontrollgruppe 0,7 mm und in der ED Gruppe 0,5 mm gemessen werden. Beide Werte unterschieden sich nicht signifikant voneinander (P= 0,2092; Konfidenzintervall -0,6 – 0,2). Die relative humeroulnare Rotation lag in der Kontrollgruppe bei 2,9 Grad und in der ED Gruppe bei 5,3 Grad. Damit lag ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen beiden Gruppen vor (P= 0,0229; Konfidenzintervall 0,4 – 4,4). Die Kontaktflächenmuster zeigten in der Kontrollgruppe, während der dargestellten Fußungsphase, eine homogene Verteilung des Kontaktes über das gesamte mediale Koronoid. Hingegen konnte in dysplastischen Gelenken eine Reduktion des Kontaktes im kraniolateralen Anteil des Koronoids beobachtet werden. Schlussfolgerung: Die radioulnare Bewegung zeigt zwischen gesunden und dysplastischen Gelenken keinen signifikanten Unterschied auf. Die Hypothese einer ausgeprägten Translation zwischen Radius und Ulna in Gelenken erkrankter Hunde, die während der Bewegung zu einer dynamischen RUI führt kann damit widerlegt werden. Allerdings zeigt der Humerus in dysplastischen Gelenken eine vermehrte Rotationsbewegung, die zu einer Verlagerung der Trochlea humeri gegen den medialen Kronfortsatz führt. Dieser visuell und quantitativ erfasste Effekt spiegelt sich auch in den Kontaktflächenmustern wieder. Da Pathologien im Sinne des FPC typischerweise im Bereich des dargestellten, konzentrierten Kontaktes auftreten, ist davon auszugehen, dass es durch die humerale Rotation zu einer vermehrten Belastung des Koronoids kommt, welche zur Fragmentation des Kronfortsatzes führen kann. Die Ursache dieser vermehrten Bewegung ist derzeit nicht bekannt. Möglicherweise spielen Weichteilpathologien eine Rolle, ähnlich der Pathogenese der Hüftgelenksdysplasie. Neben der bereits bekannten und beschriebenen statischen RUI scheint die Rotationsinstabilität des Humerus eine entscheidende Rolle in der Pathogenese der ED zu spielen, insbesondere in kongruent erscheinenden Gelenken. / Introduction: Elbow dysplasia (ED) is one of the most frequent reasons for forelimb lameness especially in young large breed dogs. Radio-ulnar incongruence is discussed to be one of the main factors in the pathogenesis of ED. GUILLOU et al. (2011) described an axial translation between the radius and the ulna up to 1 mm in sound canine elbow joints in vivo. Based on this study we developed the hypothesis that pronounced radio-ulnar movement in dysplastic joints leads to a dynamic radio-ulnar incongruence. This dynamic incongruence might explain why 40 % of dysplastic dogs show no measurable step formation. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the dynamic radio-ulnar incongruence in sound and dysplastic dogs in vivo. Material and Methods: Seven dysplastic joints in six dogs and six sound joints in five dogs were evaluated. All dysplastic joints showed a fragmented coronoid process and a radio-ulnar incongruence and cartilage lesions on the ulnar and humeral joint surface in a varying degree. A minimum of three Tantalum markers were implanted into the Humerus, Radius and Ulna each. Afterwards biplanar fluoroscopic gait analysis was performed while the dogs were walking on a treadmill. Gained marker movement was transferred onto reconstructed three dimensional CT bone models of each dog. The 3D animations were visually assessed and relative movement between the radius and ulna as well as between the humerus and ulna was measured and expressed as translation (millimeter) and rotation (degree). Further the joint contact patterns of the ulnar joint surface were determined for all dysplastic and sound joints and visually compared to each other. Results: Relative radio-ulnar translation was 0.7 mm in sound joints and 0.5 mm in dysplastic joints. There was no significant difference between these two groups (P= 0.2092; convidence interval -0.6 to 0.2). A significant difference between the dysplastic and the sound group was present in the relative humeral rotation (P= 0.0229; convidence interval 0.4 to 4.4). Humeral rotation relative to the ulna was 2.9 degree in sound and 5.3 degree in dysplastic joints. Humero-ulnar contact at the medial coronoid process was evenly distributed over the medial coronoid process in control elbows, while contact area in dysplastic elbows was reduced and shifted to the lateral aspect of the medial coronoid process Conclusion: Radio-ulnar movement is not significantly different between dysplastic and sound elbow joints. So the hypothesis of a pronounced axial translation between the radius and the ulna in dysplastic joints, leading to dynamic RUI can be neglected. However the humerus shows a significantly pronounced rotational movement in dysplastic joints compared to sound elbows. The trochlea humeri moves towards cranio-lateral and hits the medial coronoid process at its cranio-lateral aspect. The effect of this rotational movement can be shown in the joint contact patterns of the ulnar joint surface. Contact is shifted towards the tip and the lateral aspect of the coronoid process. In that area fragmentation of the medial coronoid process is typically observed. It seems that rotation of the humerus relative to the ulna leads to reduced contact and mechanical overload of the coronoid process. The cause of this increased rotational movement remains unknown. Maybe the documented movement could be interpreted as joint instability similar to the pathogenesis of hip dysplasia in which soft tissue laxity results in joint instability and degenerative joint disease. Besides the already described static radio-ulnar incongruence humeral rotational instability seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of elbow dysplasia, especially in congruent joints.

The cerebellum affects a number of important and complex processes in the organism. It ensures coordination, motor learning and plays an important role in cognitive and affective functions. In the case of cerebellar degeneration, we find not only the movement disorders but also behavioral abnormalities, collectively referred to as cognitive-affective syndrome. The aim of this work was to investigate motor functions during ontogenesis in animal models of hereditary cerebellar degeneration - mutant mice Lurcher and Purkinje cell degeneration using the device for quantitative gait analysis and rotarod. In addition, the effect of physical activity on the extent of ataxia and manifestations in classical behavioral tests was monitored. The results confirmed significant differences in motor skills between mutant and healthy mice; differences were also observed in some gait parameters, especially in walking speed and parameters that correlate with it. The motor functions of most groups of mice did not change during ontogenesis, pcd mice deteriorated their performance on the rotarod. The effect of physical activity was not found, with the exception of Forced swimming test. Physical activity of set intensity did not have any beneficial effect on the motoric manifestations of the mice.

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Observers can identify gender based on individual gait styles visually. Existing research showed that gender differences in gait kinematics mainly occur in the frontal and transverse planes and are influenced by various factors. This study adds to the existing work by analysing the kinematic features that distinguish gait styles influenced by gender and gait speeds. 29 females and 33 males without gait disorders took part in this study. A wireless IMU-based sensor system was used to collect 3D kinematic data at 60 Hz on a 15 m walkway at three different gait speeds. Statistical analysis was based on discrete parameters, principal component analysis (PCA), and support vector machines (SVM). Dissimilarities due to different gait speeds were analysed in transverse and frontal planes for the upper body and in the sagittal plane for the upper and lower body (p < 0.001 and Cohen’s d > 0.8). In joint angles (knees; transversal plane), segment orientation angles (upper body; frontal plane) and segment position (upper body; sagittal and frontal plane), statistically significant differences (p < 0.001 and Cohen’s d > 0.8) were observed for gender.Good classification accuracies for joint angles, segment orientation and segment positions of 97-100 % between gait speed and 77-87 % between gender groups were found. In this study, gender had less influence on gait kinematics than gait speed.:1. Introduction 2. Methods 3. Results 4. Discussion