Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/28113
Title: Changes in biomechanical characteristics of gait during pregnancy in Maltese women
Authors: Sillato, Darren
Keywords: Pregnant women -- Malta
Biomechanics
Dynamics
Backache
Issue Date: 2017
Abstract: Aim: Focus in this study was given to the 3-dimensional analysis of gait in healthy Maltese pregnant women. The overall purpose of this study was to further improve, and add on to the current knowledge of quantification of the spatio-temporal and biomechanical changes that occur during different stages of pregnancy. The anticipation was that these findings may impart further comprehension for the reasons pertaining to the high incidence of back pain associated, especially, with the late phases of pregnancy. Background: The posture of a pregnant woman changes and as a result so do the biomechanical attributes of movement, significantly so in the second and third trimesters. Low back pain in pregnancy is relatively common and peaks both in prevalence and severity at around the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the third. The rate of change of posture and movement is also highest at this stage. The ever-changing biomechanical factors and their association with the incidence of low back pain are largely unknown. Design: Prospective Longitudinal comparative design with convenience sample Method: The gait patterns of twenty seven (27) primagravidae females were captured three (3) times, at sixteen (16), twenty six (26) and thirty six (36) weeks of gestation. After the data capturing was performed, the data was evaluated, analysed, and also compared to normative data of matched nulligravidae individuals. Pelvis and lower extremity data was collected using a set of 10 infrared cameras and 2 force plates. The subjects were marked using seventeen (17) retroreflective markers according to a modified Helen Hayes marker placement protocol, on the pelvis and legs. This provided kinematic data of the pelvis, hip knee and ankle, and the relationship between each. The force plates provided the necessary kinetic data. Results: The results demonstrate significant early changes in spatiotemporal parameters, which stop by the 16th week of pregnancy, significant kinematic changes throughout the term initiating proximally, but very minor kinetic changes. Low back pain sufferers tend to have higher kinematic peaks in the sagittal plane, different rotational component and altered temporal parameters when compared to their pain free counterparts. Conclusions: there is evidence of an early onset of spatiotemporal changes occurring, some of which are retained, whilst others changes like kinematics continue fluctuating. Further analyses of the results are required especially between the Low Back Pain and Pain Free group.
Description: M.SC.CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/28113
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - FacHSc - 2017
Dissertations - FacHScPod - 2017

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