Back to Journals » International Journal of General Medicine » Volume 6

The impact of obesity in the kinematic parameters of gait in young women

Authors da Silva-Hamu TC , Formiga CK, Gervásio FM, Ribeiro DM, Christofoletti G, de França Barros J

Received 4 March 2013

Accepted for publication 18 April 2013

Published 24 June 2013 Volume 2013:6 Pages 507—513

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S44768

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Tânia Cristina Dias da Silva-Hamu,1 Cibelle Kayenne Martins Roberto Formiga,1 Flávia Martins Gervásio,1 Darlan Martins Ribeiro,2 Gustavo Christofoletti,3 Jônatas de França Barros4

1Physical Therapy Department of the State University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, ²Dr Henrique Santillo Readaptation and Rehabilitation Center, Goiânia, Goiás, 3Physical Therapy Department of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 4Department of Physical Education of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the population, particularly in women. Obesity has an impact on the musculoskeletal system, leading to knee and ankle overexertion, difficulty with balance, and functional disability. The aim of this study was to identify changes in kinematic parameters of gait in obese young women.
Methods: A case-control study with 24 obese women (mean age 35.20 ± 9.9 years and mean body mass index of 31.85 ± 2.94 kg/m²) and 24 eutrophic women (mean age of 36.33 ± 11.14 and mean body mass index of 21.82 ± 1.58 kg/m²). The gait of women was evaluated by the system Vicon Motus® 9.2. The linear parameters of speed, cadence, right and left step, and stride lengths were studied, as well as the angular parameters of knee and ankle.
Results: There was a decrease in linear gait parameters (P < 0.001), speed, cadence, right and left step, and stride lengths. In regard to the angular parameters of the knee and ankle, there were also differences between the analyses (P < 0.001). At the knee joint, obese women have delayed onset of the second wave of flexion, exacerbating such movement in order to compensate. In regard to the ankle, both groups showed curves of normal plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, but there was a delay in the path graph in the ankle of obese women indicating a reduced range of motion and possible over-exertion of the pretibial muscles and soleus muscles simultaneously.
Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that obesity is a factor that negatively influences the kinematic parameters of gait of young women.

Keywords: gait, musculoskeletal system, body mass index

Creative Commons License © 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.