| The ability to ascend and descend stairs is an important aspect of life required for performing normal daily activities. While stair climbing is generally an uneventful task for young, healthy individuals, it is quite the opposite for their older, disabled counterparts. Elderly and disabled populations are often forced to adopt alternate gait patterns while ascending and descending stairs due to factors such as decreased muscle strength, joint disease, and decreased proprioception. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of these alternate gait patterns on knee biomechanics.; Seventeen normal, healthy adults (mean age = 23.71 years) participated in gait testing designed to compare kinematics and kinetics at the knee joint during two stair climbing gait patterns. The first gait pattern requires that one foot be placed on each step (step-over-step), and the second requires that both feet be placed on each step (step-by-step).; The results of the present study have practical implications for reducing patellofemoral knee pain of the resting limb. They are also relevant for research pertaining to the rehabilitation and functional capacity of patients with knee injuries. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
