Visual feedback gait re-training in overweight children can reduce excessive tibial acceleration during walking and running: An experimental intervention study

• Published in: Gait & posture 2019-02, Vol.68, p.101-105
• Main Authors: Tirosh, Oren, Steinberg, Nili, Nemet, Dan, Eliakim, Alon, Orland, Guy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofeedback; Gait retraining; Overweight children; Tibia acceleration
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.11.006

•Overweight children have greater tibia PPA in running but not in fast walking.•Visual feedback gait retraining in overweight children can reduce tibia PPA by 16%.•Reduction in tibia PPA persist 1-month following gait retraining program. Being overweight may increase the risk for developing stress fracture, as overweight adults and children were reported to have greater pressure peaks and rates under the heel during walking when compared with their normal-weight counterparts. Biofeedback gait retraining was shown to reduce ground impact magnitude in adults but not yet in children. The study examined whether overweight children have greater tibia peak positive acceleration (PPA) at ground impact during fast walking and running compared to healthy weight children, and whether visual feedback gait retraining program can be used to reduce PPA in overweight children. Twenty five overweight and 12 healthy weight children participated in the study. Overweight children were randomly assigned into either feedback group or control no-feedback group of 8 sessions training program over 2-weeks. Tibia PPA at ground impact output from a wearable inertial sensor attached to the tibia was the feedback displayed on a monitor placed in front of the treadmill during walking and running. Compared to healthy weight children, overweight participants showed significant greater PPA values in running (p