Objective gait analysis provide a large number of data, which are used for planning further treatment of the patient. Data from groups of patients are used for comparisons of different treatment methods, assessment of the severity of gait deviations, design of classification systems. The Gilette Gait Index (GGI) was designed to express the level of abnormality of the gait pattern of patients with cerebral palsy by one number: a measure of distance between the set of discrete gait parameters of a patient from a similar set of a healthy subject, based on 16 parameters. Gait pathology in other disorders is different, thus other variables may better describe their level of pathology. The aim was to see if modified GGI can be constructed based on other sets of gait variables. To decide which gait variables should be taken three different analytical methods were used: Hellwig Correlation Based Filter, random forest, and correlation methods. Gait data of 84 patients were retrospectively selected: 30 had spastic cerebral palsy, 24 scoliosis, 30 suffered the stroke. The results show, that in the final sets of the 16 parameters chosen by the analyses there are some parameters, which were not present in the original list of GGI. If the number of sixteen parameters is kept, there are more than one optimal set of parameters. In conclusion, the use of analytical methods enabled the choice of sets of 16 gait parameters which are specific for the medical problem, and the calculation of modified GGIs.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the results of six balance tests collected on AMTI AccuSway Plus ACS force platform between healthy female and male children and adolescents. We also searched for possible correlation of the balance measures with subjects’ age. Methods: 228 healthy 6- to 18-year-old subjects (111 boys and 117 girls) participated in the study. Six balance tests were performed with the use of AMTI AccuSway Plus ACS platform: quiet standing for 30s, maximal voluntary sways of the body in the sagittal plane (anterior-posterior – AP test) for 30 s, and in the frontal plane (left-right – ML test) for 30s. All tests were performed in two conditions: eyes open and eyes closed. Results: During quiet standing with eyes open, most balance measures were lower in girls ( p < 0.05). In AP and ML tests with eyes open, a few balance parameters were different between boys and girls ( p < 0.05). In quiet standing, AP and ML tests with eyes closed, there were no between-gender differences ( p > 0.05). In quiet standing with eyes open and closed most balance parameters were negatively correlated with age ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Quiet standing postural sway characteristics depended on gender under normal visual conditions and it was similar in boys and girls under visual deprivation conditions. The vision was differently used by females and males in balance tasks. Static postural stability improved with age regardless of visual conditions.
The aim of the study was to determine balance parameters in a group of young patients with vertigo symptoms and to verify posturography helpfulness in clinical evaluation of vestibular system pathology. Methods: 77 children and adolescents of age 3–18 suffering from vertigo episodes participated in the study (46 girls, 31 boys). They underwent audiology objective tests and balance test on stable surface. Calculated balance parameters were analyzed in reference to: eyes opened and closed, age influence, sway comparison in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral, differences between subgroups with and without vestibular deficits. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess classification ability to impaired group in two cases: only balance parameters and both audiology and balance parameters. Results: Patients with vertigo symptoms generally keep their balance properly on stable surface. Balance parameters do not depend on presence of vestibular system pathology. Values increased in eyes closed conditions. Left/Right and Anterior/Posterior differences were not statistically significant. The negative correlation between age and some balance parameters is present, stronger in the case of eyes opened and weaker or absent in vestibular impaired group. Also, correlations between axes were found, higher in impaired group in comparison with not impaired one. Conclusions: Discrimination based on balance parameters is poor not comparable to one built on combined: audiology and balance parameters, so typical balance parameters’ analysis is not so useful in clinical practice when the reason of vertigo episodes should be assessed, but verify compensation process and measure with objective numbers the progress of recovering, the actual functional patient’s status.
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