Severe Obesity: Effects on Foot Mechanics During Walking

The purpose of our study was to determine the effects of severe obesity on the foot mechanics of adult females. Twenty-nine adult females between the ages of 20 and 48 years volunteered as subjects for this investigation. The subjects were separated into a severely obese (O) group (body mass index = 41.14 ± 2.61; N = 16) and a normal weight control group (body mass index = 20.84 ± 0.47; N = 13). A Locam camera (100 Hz) positioned perpendicular to the subjects’ posterior aspect was used to film the rearfoot movement of the subjects during the final 15 sec of a 10 min treadmill walk. The O group had a significantly greater touchdown angle (P = .05), more total eversion range of motion (P = .001), and a faster maximum eversion velocity (P < .001). Moreover, analysis of dynamic foot angles indicated that the O group had significantly (P = .003) more forefoot abduction. Finally, anthropometric data revealed statistically different (P < .001) Q angle measurements between the O and control groups. The results of this study suggest that severely obese females have significantly greater rearfoot motion, foot angle, and Q angle values than normal weight females.

[1]  W. Willett,et al.  A prospective study of cholesterol, apolipoproteins, and the risk of myocardial infarction. , 1991, The New England journal of medicine.

[2]  S. Messier,et al.  Etiologic factors associated with patellofemoral pain in runners. , 1990, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[3]  D. Winter,et al.  Talocrural and talocalcaneal joint kinematics and kinetics during the stance phase of walking. , 1991, Journal of biomechanics.

[4]  B M Nigg,et al.  Three-dimensional measurement of rearfoot motion during running. , 1990, Journal of biomechanics.

[5]  R. Kram,et al.  Stride length in distance running: velocity, body dimensions, and added mass effects. , 1989, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[6]  Stephen P. Messier,et al.  Biomechanics of the rearfoot during walking in high and low fat females , 1989 .

[7]  S. Messier,et al.  Etiologic factors associated with selected running injuries. , 1988, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[8]  Rodger Kram,et al.  Load carriage with compliant poles — Physiological and/or biomechanical advantages? , 1987 .

[9]  J. Sasaki,et al.  A long-term aerobic exercise program decreases the obesity index and increases the high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in obese children. , 1987, International journal of obesity.

[10]  J. Garrow,et al.  Exercise and Obesity , 1986, Sports medicine.

[11]  P. E. Martin.  Mechanical and physiological responses to lower extremity loading during running. , 1985, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[12]  G. S. Bonham,et al.  The relationship of diabetes with race, sex, and obesity. , 1985, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[13]  W L Daniels,et al.  The energy cost and heart-rate response of trained and untrained subjects walking and running in shoes and boots. , 1984, Ergonomics.

[14]  Jukka T. Vtasalo,et al.  Some biomechanical aspects of the foot and ankle in athletes with and without shin splints , 1983, The American journal of sports medicine.

[15]  P. Björntorp,et al.  The health consequences of moderate obesity. , 1981, International journal of obesity.

[16]  M Feinleib,et al.  Obesity and lipoprotein cholesterol in the Framingham offspring study. , 1980, Metabolism: clinical and experimental.

[17]  G. Gehlsen,et al.  Selected measures of angular displacement, strength, and flexibility in subjects with and without shin splints. , 1980, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[18]  D. Hunninghake,et al.  Effects of a vigorous walking program on body composition, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of obese young men. , 1979, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[19]  P. Sparling,et al.  Effect of experimental alterations in excess weight on aerobic capacity and distance running performance. , 1978, Medicine and science in sports.

[20]  W. Haskell,et al.  Effects of physical activity on weight reduction in obese middle-aged women. , 1976, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[21]  R. W. Levell,et al.  FOOTPRINT PATTERNS DURING WALKING , 1973 .

[22]  M. P. Murray,et al.  Walking patterns of normal women. , 1970, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[23]  R G Soule,et al.  Energy cost of loads carried on the head, hands, or feet. , 1969, Journal of applied physiology.

[24]  H. Ralston,et al.  Energy levels of human body segments during level walking. , 1969, Ergonomics.

[25]  J. Dempsey.  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OBESITY AND TREADMILL PERFORMANCE IN SEDENTARY AND ACTIVE YOUNG MEN. , 1964, Research quarterly.

[26]  A. B. Drought,et al.  WALKING PATTERNS OF NORMAL MEN. , 1964, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[27]  D. Wright,et al.  ACTION OF THE SUBTALAR AND ANKLE-JOINT COMPLEX DURING THE STANCE PHASE OF WALKING. , 1964, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[28]  H. Brattstroem.  SHAPE OF THE INTERCONDYLAR GROOVE NORMALLY AND IN RECURRENT DISLOCATION OF PATELLA. A CLINICAL AND X-RAY-ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATION. , 1964, Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica. Supplementum.

[29]  D. J. Morton.  THE ANGLE OF GAIT: A STUDY BASED UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FEET OF CENTRAL AFRICAN NATIVES , 1932 .

[30]  S. Patek.  The angle of gait in women , 1926 .

[31]  S. Dougan.  The angle of gait , 1924 .

[32]  "EXAMINATION OF HUMAN GAIT " , 1897, Journal. Boston Society of Medical Sciences.