RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Gait analysis in ankylosing spondylitis.
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 898
OP 899
DO 10.1136/ard.51.7.898
VO 51
IS 7
A1 Zebouni, L
A1 Helliwell, P S
A1 Howe, A
A1 Wright, V
YR 1992
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/51/7/898.abstract
AB A study was conducted to compare the gait pattern of 12 patients with ankylosing spondylitis with axial disease only with that of 11 healthy controls using a telemeterised electrogoniometer gait analysis system. The reproducibility of the gait variables was found to be acceptable. Angles for movement at the hip and knee were less in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, but hip/knee angle ratios did not differ between the two groups. The stride length was shorter in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis. These findings are due to the increased rigidity of the spine, which results in decreased shock absorption and consequently a more cautious gait pattern in the absence of clinically and radiologically detectable peripheral joint disease.