Effects of Real-time Feedback During Decline Walking on Kinematic and Kinetic Gait Parameters in a Healthy Population
Condition: Healthy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Control of the dynamic functional leg alignment (dFLA) and biomechanical load are important
      joint related aspects regarding the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Research on level
      walking with feedback on load related parameters provided innovative treatment possibilities.
      Concerning walking on sloped surfaces, fundamental biomechanical knowledge exists. However,
      deeper insights into the control of the dFLA during decline walking, and the usefulness of
      real-time feedback are missing.

      This study is set up as cross-sectional observation of gait under four conditions, which
      follows a randomized sequence in order to avoid carry over effects. Thirty (30) participants
      aged between 18 and 35 years will be included. They will complete a three-dimensional gait
      analysis on a 5-m ramp with 10° inclination. Afterwards they will be observed under four
      different conditions a) self-paced walking b) self-paced walking with internal focus of
      attention, c) self-paced walking with real-time feedback, and d) condition c speed-matched
      walking, on a 10° declined split belt treadmill. The primary outcome parameter will be the
      frontal knee range of motion (fKROM). Secondary outcomes include the ground reaction force
      loading rate, spatial-temporal parameters, sagittal frontal and transversal kinematics, and
      kinetics for the lower extremities.

      The findings should improve the understanding of effects of real-time feedback on the control
      of the dFLA and lower limb loading. Results will be published in a peer-review journal.
    


Intervention name(s): Decline Walking with real-time Feedback
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Participants are walking decline with self-paced speed on an instrumented treadmill with virtual reality projection under three conditions: without instruction, with instruction for an internal focus of attention and with real-time feedback of their frontal knee alignment
Other intervention name(s): Decline Walking with increased internal focus of attention; Decline Walking
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: The study is set up as cross-sectional observation of gait under four conditions, which follows a randomized sequence in order to avoid carry over effects. Chronologically, the assessments will start with the tertiary observation, investigating agreements between declined/inclined ramp and treadmill walking. Thereafter, three out of four conditions (self-paced walking, self-paced walking with internal focus of attention, and self-paced walking with real-time feedback) are tested under block randomization of their six possible permutations . With three conditions (n=3), this represents the smallest number of permutations, equaling a Williams design, where each condition precedes each other condition equally often and each treatment occurs equally frequently at each position. The fourth corresponding condition (speed-matched walking) is exempted from the sequence randomization and always follows after self-paced walking with real-time feedback.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Real-time feedback; Decline walking; Leg alignment; Kinematic; Kinetic; Treadmill