Comparison of Gait Patterns Between Healthy and Scoliotic Patients Using Time and Frequency Domain Analysis of Ground Reaction Forces

Study Design The walking gait in 20 healthy adolescent girls and 20 adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis was compared using time and frequency domain analysis of the ground reaction forces. Objectives To investigate the support phase mechanics of walking gait in health subjects and those with scoliosis. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have demonstrated the important role of gait in the etiology of scoliosis, although, to date, there are no detailed reports that examine kinetic gait parameters. Methods Selected force-time parameters were used to investigate time domain patterns. The frequency content of the vertical, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral components was used to examine frequency characteristics. Inter- and intrasubject variability and bilateral symmetry also were examined. Results The findings indicated no significant differences between the two groups for the time domain variables. However, the frequency content of the group with scoliosis was significantly higher than that of the control group, especially in the medial-lateral component, suggesting presence of a balance control misfunction. In addition, substantially higher inter- and intrasubject variability and asymmetry was found within the frequency content of the group with scoliosis compared with the control group in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions. Conclusions Patients with scoliosis exhibit balance problems during the stance phase of gait and have significant asymmetry in the frequency characteristics. These findings could be a primary effect that contributes to the medial-lateral deformity of the spine and its initiation and progression.