The influence of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis on gait performance in healthy adults during walking

Purpose: Since the thorax and pelvis are primary determinants of normal and pathological walking, it is important to know how gait performance is influenced when the trunk is constraint. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) on gait performance in healthy adults during overground walking. Methods: Fourteen healthy volunteers walked with and without TLSO. Outcome measures consisted of spatiotemporal parameters and clinically important joint angular time profiles of the lower limbs. Joint angular time profiles were assessed in the sagittal, frontal and transversal plane. A paired t-test was used for discrete parameters and spm1d for assessing the joint angular time profiles. Results: Walking with a constraint resulted in decreased stride time and step time, increased step width and cadence. In the sagittal plane, no significant differences were observed regarding joint kinematics in the hip, knee and ankle. In the frontal plane, decreased adduction during stance and abduction during swing was observed in the hip. In the transversal plane, increased external rotation of the hip and increased internal rotation of the ankle was seen when wearing a contstraint. Conclusions: Wearing a TLSO can already bring forth significant changes in gait performance, suggesting an important relationship between trunk movements and mobility.