The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which a novel assistive device improved two dimensional base of support (BOS) as compared to unassisted walking. Telescoping walking poles (T poles) are designed to allow a gait pattern more closely resembling unassisted gait and provide enhanced stability. Nine healthy male and female subjects who had no recent lower extremity pathology or surgery and were between the ages of 59 and 78 were recruited from the community to participate. Subjects were instructed to use the T poles in a consistent manner and were monitored through weekly supervised training sessions. At the conclusion of the study, motion analysis was performed using video collected from six cameras. Subjects were adorned with reflective markers on the toe and heel of their shoes as well as the tips of the T poles. These markers were used to define the BOS. Two dimensional analyses revealed a significant increase in base of support, an average of 316% over the entire gait cycle as well as 531% at heel strike and 126 % at toe off with the T poles. These results support the T poles as an effective intervention in enhancing stability in an elderly population of recreational walkers. / School of Physical Education
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/187511 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Horn, Bryon G. |
| Contributors | Newton, Robert U. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 1 v. (various pagings) : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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