Measurement and Analysis Method for Elbow Joint Moments During Walker-Assisted Walking

A new measurement and analysis method was proposed to investigate the changes in elbow joint moments that occur with the use of a front-wheeled walker. A strain gauge-based walker instrumentation system was developed to monitor the hand loads during walker-assisted walking and integrated with an upper extremity biomechanical model, Preliminary system data were collected for 12 subjects following informed consent. Bilateral upper extremity kinematic data were acquired with a six-camera motion analysis system. Internal joint moments at the elbow were determined in the three clinical planes using the inverse dynamics method. Results showed that during a walker-assisted gait elbow joint moments mainly distributed in the walker stance period. There was a noted demand on the elbow extensor in the sagittal plane with the greatest record as 0.381 N.m/（kg.m）, An interesting “bare phase” of mean elbow joint moments was also found in phase angle-240°-340° of gait cycle. Complete description of elbow joint moments of walkerassisted gait may provide insight into walker use parameters and rehabilitative strategies.