Lower limb laterality versus foot structure in men and women (original) (raw)
Related papers
Laterality versus ankle dorsi- and plantarflexion maximal torques
Acta of bioengineering and biomechanics / Wroclaw University of Technology
The aim of the study was to analyze the connections between the functional asymmetries of lower limbs, taking into account morphological feet features, and ankle dorsi-and plantarflexion maximal torques in men and women. Methods: The study population consisted of 56 young subjects among which there were 30 women and 26 men. The assessment of upper and lower limbs' side dominance was performed on the basis of surveys, verified with simple motor tasks that resembled the actions characteristic of the upper and lower limbs. The measurements of body build, as well as foot build, were performed with the use of accepted instruments according to the anthropometry standards. The measurements of longitudinal foot arches were conducted using the pantographic method. Ankle dorsi-and plantarflexion maximal torque values were measured under static conditions. Results: We found a positive correlation between the functional dominance of lower limb and greater strength only for ankle plantarflexion maximal torque values in correct laterality variants in women and in only one variant in men. No correlation was found between foot morphological asymmetry and the ankle dorsiand plantarflexion maximal torque values, either in women or in men. Conclusion: Our results support the idea that the functional lower limb dominance is not equivalent to the greater muscle strength.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2012
While many studies use gait symmetry as a marker of healthy gait, the evidence that gait symmetry exists is limited. Because gait symmetry is thought to arise through laterality (i.e., limb preference) and affects gait retraining efforts, it is important to understand if symmetry exists during gait in older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate foot and gait symmetry in the population-based Framingham Foot Study as well as to determine the effects of vertical force symmetry on physical performance measures. Members of the Framingham Foot Study were included in this analysis (N=1333). Foot function and force data were collected using the Tekscan Matscan during self-selected gait, with symmetry evaluated using the symmetry index. The short physical performance battery (SPPB) measures of balance, chair stands and gait speed assessed lower extremity physical function. Participants were evaluated using quartiles of gait speed and foot symmetry to determine the effects of symmetry on lower extremity physical function. Individuals with faster gait speed displayed greater foot function asymmetry; individuals with -3.0% to -9.5% asymmetry in foot function performed better on the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Further, with aging, the degree of asymmetry was reduced. While this research suggests that a moderate degree of foot asymmetry is associated with better lower extremity function, the causes of vertical force asymmetry are unknown. Future studies should evaluate the causes of foot asymmetry and should track the changes in symmetry that occur with aging.
An Evaluation of Symmetry in the Lower Limb Joints During the Able-Bodied Gait of Women and Men
For many years, mainly to simplify data analysis, scientists assumed that during a gait, the lower limbs moved symmetrically. However, even a cursory survey of the more recent literature reveals that the human walk is symmetrical only in some aspects. That is why the presence of asymmetry should be considered in all studies of locomotion. The gait data were collected using the 3D motion analysis system Vicon. The inclusion criteria allowed the researchers to analyze a very homogenous group, which consisted of 54 subjects (27 women and 27 men). Every selected participant moved at a similar velocity: approximately 1,55 m/s. The analysis included kinematic parameters defining spatio-temporal structure of locomotion, as well as angular changes of the main joints of the lower extremities (ankle, knee and hip) in the sagittal plane. The values of those variables were calculated separately for the left and for the right leg in women and men. This approach allowed us to determine the size of the differences, and was the basis for assessing gait asymmetry using a relative asymmetry index, which was constructed by the authors. Analysis of the results demonstrates no differences in the temporal and phasic variables of movements of the right and left lower limb. However, different profiles of angular changes in the sagittal plane were observed, measured bilaterally for the ankle joint.
Limb dominance, foot orientation and functional asymmetry during walking gait
Gait & posture, 2016
While healthy gait is often characterized as, or assumed to be symmetric, consistent asymmetries often exist. In this study, we test the hypotheses that asymmetries in lower limb function, as measured by ground reaction force characteristics, may be explained by differences in foot orientation or limb dominance. Peak ground reaction force (GRF) measurements, and impulses were obtained for thirty-six healthy subjects with simultaneous kinematic estimates of foot posture. Three gait tasks were performed: subjects walked i) with normal foot orientation, ii) with feet laterally rotated (outward), and iii) with feet aligned in the direction of movement (straight). All subjects reported right limb dominance. Our results indicate that vertical, braking and propulsive GRF components are largely symmetrical, but significant asymmetries exist in the mediolateral peak forces and impulses with higher lateral and lower medially-directed GRF components being generated by the dominant right limbs....
Symmetry and limb dominance in able-bodied gait: a review
Gait & posture, 2000
As one of the most universal of all human activities, gait in the able-bodied has received considerable attention, but many aspects still need to be clarified. Symmetry or asymmetry in the actions of the lower extremities during walking and the possible effect of laterality on gait are two prevalent and controversial issues. The purpose of this study was to review the work done over the last few decades in demonstrating: (a) whether or not the lower limbs behave symmetrically during able-bodied gait; and (b) how limb dominance affects the symmetrical or asymmetrical behavior of the lower extremities. The literature reviewed shows that gait symmetry has often been assumed, to simplify data collection and analysis. In contrast, asymmetrical behavior of the lower limbs during able-bodied ambulation was addressed in numerous investigations and was found to reflect natural functional differences between the lower extremities. These functional differences were probably related to the contribution of each limb in carrying out the tasks of propulsion and control during able-bodied walking. In current debates on gait symmetry in able-bodied subjects, laterality has been cited as an explanation for the existence of functional differences between the lower extremities, although a number of studies do not support the hypothesis of a relationship between gait symmetry and laterality. Further investigation is needed to demonstrate functional gait asymmetry and its relationship to laterality, taking into consideration the biomechanical aspects of gait.
Review Paper: A Review of Selected Factors Affecting Gait Symmetry
Purpose: Because walking is the main activity of humans for movement, many research studies have been conducted to understand its details. One of the main issues in this regard is gait symmetry and the effect of various factors on it. Accordingly, the present study aimed to review the selected factors affecting gait symmetry. Methods: A literature review was performed on articles published from 2000 to 2016 using Science Direct, Google scholar, PubMed, Ovid Medline, Scopus and Medline databases. The search keywords were " gait asymmetry " , " bilateral coordination " , " bilateral asymmetry " , " limb dominance " , " laterality " , " limb preference " and " performance asymmetry. " Results: A total of 60 scientific articles were selected according to the research criteria by searching the relevant articles published from 2000 to 2016 in reliable scientific databases. Conclusion: A review of the previous studies shows that walking in normal people is asymmetric in terms of the lower limb function. Also, limb disorder due to the illness and or disorder creates gait asymmetry. Therefore, regaining perfect symmetry or decreasing gait asymmetry by exercise and intervention in such individuals is considered a method to examine the success of rehabilitation process. However, as factors like movement speed and age can affect gait asymmetry, they should be controlled during the examination of gait asymmetry. Moreover, this information could be useful for gait assessment, clinical prescriptions for patients with abnormalities, designing orthosis and prosthesis, as well as improving the performance of athletes.
Handedness is likely to be controlled by many genetic variants, some of which are in sex-dependent genes that also influence body asymmetry. One such asymmetry may be in foot length. Levy and Levy (Science, 200, 1291– 1292, 1978) reported that right-handed males have longer right feet than left and left-handed males have longer left feet than right, while this trend was found to be reversed in females. Subsequent studies, however, were unable to repli-cate this effect. Here, we consider the relationship between foot asymmetry and asymmetry of hand performance in a sample of 251 children from the Jamaican rural countryside. Foot length was measured and asymmetry was calculated (L– R). An Annett peg test was used to measure speed of hand performance for right and left hands. Lateralised hand performance (LHP) was calculated by dividing the right-hand time by the left-hand time (i.e. LHP <1=faster right hands). For boys, L–R foot length asymmetry was positively correlated to right-hand times and to LHP, and the relationships were independent of age. It is notable that the larger the relative size of the right foot, the faster the speed of the right hand, but so also the smaller the relative size of the right foot, the slower the speed of the right hand—the distribution is continuous and significant. In girls, foot length asymmetry did not correlate with hand speed. Thus, we have replicated the Levy and Levy effect in boys, but not girls. We discuss these results in relationship to the influence of sex-dependent genes and foetal sex steroids on brain and body lateralisation.
Morphometric Analysis of Bilateral Variations in the Anatomy of Foot
International Journal of Anatomy and Research
Foot dynamic anthropometry has a vital role in medical rehabilitation, sport science, and footwear design among others. There is wide diversity in human foot size and shape depending upon race, age, sex etc. It is known that one's foot size changes with age. Children and teenagers grow one to three foot sizes each year Materials and Methods: Present research has been designed to study the bilateral variations in the anatomy of foot. The study is conducted on 400 young females ranging in age from 5.00-20.99 years, residing in Haryana region of India. The foot length and foot width dimensions (and derived foot index) of female subjects are quantitatively analyzed to find bilateral asymmetry. A total of 400 female subjects divided into eight age groups, i.e. i) 5.
2014
Handedness is likely to be controlled by many genetic variants, some of which are in sex-dependent genes that also influence body asymmetry. One such asymmetry may be in foot length. Levy and Levy (Science, 200, 1291– 1292, 1978) reported that right-handed males have longer right feet than left and left-handed males have longer left feet than right, while this trend was found to be reversed in females. Subsequent studies, however, were unable to repli-cate this effect. Here, we consider the relationship between foot asymmetry and asymmetry of hand performance in a sample of 251 children from the Jamaican rural countryside. Foot length was measured and asymmetry was calculated (L– R). An Annett peg test was used to measure speed of hand performance for right and left hands. Lateralised hand perfor-mance (LHP) was calculated by dividing the right-hand time by the left-hand time (i.e. LHP <1=faster right hands). For boys, L–R foot length asymmetry was positively correlated to right-...