Walking Patterns of Patients with Unilateral Hip Pain Due to Osteo-Arthritis and Avascular Necrosis

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Abstract
The simultaneous displacement patterns of parts of the body were analyzed during free-speed anf fast walking of twenty-six men with unilateral hip pain. Despite the variability from one patient to another, certain distinct gait abnormalities emerged as typical of the coxalgic gait. The limp of hip pain is characterized by irregularity and asymmetry in the following gait components during successive phases of weight-bearing on the painful and sound limb: duration of the weight-bearing periods; step lenght; vertical and forward motion of the head; lateral displacement of the head, trunk, upper limb, or some combination of the three; and sagittal rotation of the shoulders and elbows. The following components were significantly less than normal: walking speed; step length; cadence; maximum extension of both hips and both ankles during the late stanee phase; maximum flexion of both knees during swing; shoulder flexion during the forward are of arm swing; and elbow extension during the backward are. The following components were significantly greater than normal: lateral motion of the head; anterior pelvic tilting; and transverse rotation of the pelvis during free-speed walking. Most of the patients showed a descent of the pelvis on the swinging side during single-limb support on the painful limb and an elevation of the pelvis on the swinging side during single-limb support on the sound limb.

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