Biomechanical analysis for FES assisted swing-through gait

Swing-through gait is a method of providing paraplegic patients a faster means of mobility. The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematics of body extremities during swing-through crutches gait with free-knees. Twelve non-disabled adult males participated in this study. Joint angles and ground reaction forces were investigated during the swing-through gait with crutches. A mathematical model consisting of linked rigid bodies was developed to analyze the gait, and the joint moments of lower extremities were calculated. The swing-through gait using Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) with crutches has a problem that patients upper limbs have to support their body against gravity during the body-swing phase. So we compared the energy consumption in upper limb muscles during the swing-through gait using axillary and elbow crutches to consider the selection of a suitable crutch for the swing-through gait by FES. The energy consumption in pectoralis major, biceps and brachialis using the axillary crutch was significantly larger than the gait using the elbow crutch. The energy consumption in the middle part of the deltoid, and long and short heads of the triceps using the elbow crutch was significantly larger than the axillary crutch walking. But there was no significant difference in the total energy consumption between the crutches. The calculated data has the potential to be applied in the clinical restoration for the swing-through gait in complete paraplegics with free-knees.