Torso Kinematics During Gait and Trunk Anthropometry in Pregnant Fallers and Non-Fallers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chambers AJ ; Daftary A ; McCrory JL ; Redfern MS
• Description:
  Background: Pregnant women experience numerous physiological and biomechanical alterations which may be associated with their increased risk of experiencing a fall. Gait alterations in other populations who fall include increased step width and mediolateral trunk motion. It is not known if pregnant women who have fallen exhibit these alterations. Research question: Our purpose was to examine torso kinematics and step width during gait in pregnant fallers, pregnant non-fallers and non-pregnant controls. We also examined trunk anthropometry in the pregnant groups to determine if pregnant fallers have different trunk physiques than pregnant non-fallers. Methods: 3D kinematic data were collected on 14 pregnant fallers, 15 pregnant non-fallers and 40 non-pregnant controls. Pregnant women were in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. Frontal plane translations of C7 and L4, step width, stride length, walking velocity, and 3D thoracic and pelvic kinematics were determined. Anthropometric torso measurements were obtained on the pregnant women. A series of MANCOVAs was performed (covariate: walking velocity, a = 0.05) to compare the dependent variables between pregnant fallers, pregnant non-fallers, and controls. Tukey post-hoc analyses were performed when appropriate (a = 0.05). A MANOVA compared anthropometric variables between pregnant fallers and non-fallers (a = 0.05). Results: Pregnant non-fallers exhibited greater step width and frontal and transverse plane angles at heel contact and range of motion over the gait cycle when compared to the fallers. Trunk anthropometry did not differ between pregnant fallers and non-fallers. Significance: Pregnancy-associated gait alterations differed between fallers and non-fallers. Greater step width of the pregnant non-fallers increased the base of support, thus increasing stability. Exercise participation may allow pregnant women to better adapt to their altered physiques and be more able to prevent a fall should a trip or slip occur. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Biomechanical Phenomena Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Pregnancy Safety Women
• Keywords:
  Anthropometry Author Keywords: Fallers Biomechanics Body Distribution Falls Gait Kinematics Motion Studies Physiology Posture Walking

  More +
• ISSN:
  0966-6362
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  204-209
• Volume:
  76
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068454
• Citation:
  Gait Posture 2020 Feb; 76:204-209
• Contact Point Address:
  Jean L. McCrory, Division of Exercise Physiology, Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Science, 8315 HSC-South, PO Box 9227, Morgantown, WV 26506-9227, USA
• Email:
  jlmccrory@hsc.wvu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pittsburgh
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Gait and Posture
• End Date:
  20081231
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:809cbd55d3a7e09fe41968a006f0a3c4bf960d787488048630421a1485d91c3ee29f740d3f920a755d9b96dd7eba6ee619e2cb11f2d7a9abc4ec62bd40463a3f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230606/cdc_230606_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 454.65 KB ]