Long-term crutch users and patients with arthritis are particularly susceptible to upper limb joint degeneration during aided gait. The function of the walking aid for stability, support, and restraint/propulsion must be optimized with the upper limb loadings caused by the aids. Post-operative total hip replacement (THR) patients, tibial fracture, and paraplegic subjects using sticks and elbow crutches were analyzed in this study. Elbow and shoulder joint centers and aid orientations were monitored simultaneously in three dimensions and combined with aid forces to determine upper limb moment loadings. Three loading effects were observed: tendency for the aids to cause 1) the elbow to flex and shoulder to extend, 2) the elbow and shoulder to extend, and 3) the shoulder to abduct. Moment values of up to 0.10 Nm per body weight (BW) causing the shoulder to extend were measured, i.e., of similar magnitude to the moments at the hip in unaided gait. A modification of the elbow crutch, designed to improve medial-lateral stability, was unsuccessful in use due to wrist instability. This reinforced the requirement that crutch designs integrate the aid’s function in gait with the ability of the upper limb joints to balance the applied loads.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
November 1987
Research Papers
Upper Limb Loadings of Gait With Crutches
K. A. Opila,
K. A. Opila
Department of Biomechanics, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, N.Y. 11568
Search for other works by this author on:
A. C. Nicol,
A. C. Nicol
Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., G4 0NW
Search for other works by this author on:
J. P. Paul
J. P. Paul
Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., G4 0NW
Search for other works by this author on:
K. A. Opila
Department of Biomechanics, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, N.Y. 11568
A. C. Nicol
Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., G4 0NW
J. P. Paul
Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., G4 0NW
J Biomech Eng. Nov 1987, 109(4): 285-290 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 1, 1987
Article history
Received:
October 23, 1986
Revised:
August 27, 1987
Online:
June 12, 2009
Article
Article discussed|
View article
Connected Content
A commentary has been published:
Closure to “Discussion of ‘Horseshoe Vortex Formation Around a Cylinder’” (1987, ASME J. Turbomach., 109, p. 285)
Citation
Opila, K. A., Nicol, A. C., and Paul, J. P. (November 1, 1987). "Upper Limb Loadings of Gait With Crutches." ASME. J Biomech Eng. November 1987; 109(4): 285–290. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3138682
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Changes in Dynamic Mean Ankle Moment Arm in Unimpaired Walking Across Speeds, Ramps, and Stairs
J Biomech Eng (September 2024)
Related Articles
Evaluation of Bone Cement Failure Criteria With Applications to the Acetabular Region
J Biomech Eng (November,1983)
Three-Dimensional Slightly Nonplanar Cracks
J. Appl. Mech (June,1992)
Stability of Laminated Composites
Appl. Mech. Rev (February,1992)
Tool Fracture Probability Under Steady State Cutting Conditions
J. Eng. Ind (May,1984)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Introduction and Definitions
Handbook on Stiffness & Damping in Mechanical Design
Introductory Information
The Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook, Third Edition
Simple Structural Elements
Introduction to Plastics Engineering