Is it possible to identify the gender and age group of adults from gait analysis with hip-knee cyclograms?
Abreu, Rodney Silva; Naves, Eduardo Lázaro M.; Caparelli, Thiago Bruno; Mariano, Daniel Teodoro G.; Dionisio, Valdeci Carlos
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-3151.0229
Rev. Bras. Eng. Bioméd., vol.30, n3, p.274-280, 2014
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Abstract
Introduction: Cyclograms are gait analysis tools that characterize the geometric aspect of the pattern of locomotion. Cyclograms are angle-angle diagrams that are very useful for representing cyclic patterns such as walking. This study is based on the hypothesis that parameters extracted from hip-knee cyclograms of individuals walking on a treadmill with 0° and 5° slopes can be used to determine the age group and sex of the volunteers. Methods: In total, 40 physically active healthy adult volunteers, 20 young people (10 of each gender) and 20 elderly (10 of each gender), were divided into 4 groups, and the average value of area (A), perimeter (P) and the ratio P/√A of cyclogram were calculated, as well as the speed and cadence. Results: The young male (YM) speeds were higher than the elderly male (EM) speeds (p=0.00), and the young female (YF) speeds were higher than the elderly female (EF) speeds (p=0.00). No difference in speed was found between YM and YF (p=0.59) or between EM and EF (p=0.95). The parameters extracted directly from the cyclogram allowed us to distinguish the studied groups according to age group (p<0.05), especially with the treadmill inclined at 5°, but it was not enough to determine gender (p>0.51). Conclusion: The hypothesis was partially confi rmed because parameters extracted from the hip-knee cyclograms could differentiate volunteers by age group but not gender.
Keywords
Gait, Young adults, Elderly, Gender, Cyclogram.