1. Range of Motion and Walking Distances in Subjects with Peripheral Artery Disease
Sarah Bakera, Iraklis Pipinosb,c, Jason Johanningb,c, and Sara Myersa,b
Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182
Omaha Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, Omaha, NE
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a consequence of atherosclerotic blockages in the lower extremity arteries resulting in muscle pain known as claudication.
Gait variability has emerged as an assessment or function and risk factor for falls in older and pathological groups.1
A healthy gait pattern demonstrates stride-to-stride fluctuations within a certain “optimal” range.2
Previous studies have found altered range of motion (ROM) at the ankle, knee, and hip in patients with PAD compared to healthy controls.3
The overall goal of this project is to look at improvements in ROM variability baseline to post-surgery.
DISCUSSION
METHODS
Mean ROM at hip and knee and six minute walk distance, ICD, and ACD significantly changed away from healthy individuals after surgery.
Improvements in walking distances after surgery are similar with previous literature.
Age (yrs)
Height (kg)
Body Mass (m)
Patients
62.43
85.99
1.78
CONCLUSIONS
Figure 1. Subject performing the graded treadmill test.
Figure 2. Subject walking on the treadmill until claudication.
Improvements in blood flow to the legs leads to some gait and functional improvements.
PAD causes changes to muscles, which likely prevents complete gait restoration.
For gait to improve further, more testing will need to be done and assessing subjects with more time to recover from the surgery.
Subjects performed gait assessment at baseline and post-revascularization.
Subjects walked on a treadmill until first sign of pain.
The treadmill was lowered and the subject walked until they could not.
Subjects performed a graded treadmill test where the treadmill increased 2% every 2 minutes at a speed of 2 miles/hour.
REFERENCES
Dependent variables included mean, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variance (CV) of range of motion of the ankle, knee and hip joints. Initial and absolute distances from the graded treadmill test, as well as the six minute walk distance were also analyzed.
Dependent t-tests will be used to compare baseline with post-surgery values (p=0.05).
1. Brach JS et al., (2005) J Neuroengineering Rehabil Jul 26;2:21.
2. Myers, S. A. et al., (2009). Journal of vascular surgery, 49(4),
3. Crowther, R. G. et al., (2007). Journal of Vascular Surgery, 45(6),
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Funding was provided by NIH (R01AG and P20GM109090), and VA RR&D (1I01RX000604).