Effects of Walking With a Shopping Trolley on Spinal Posture and Loading in Subjects With Neurogenic Claudication

Abstract Comer CM, White D, Conaghan PG, Bird HA, Redmond AC. Effects of walking with a shopping trolley on spinal posture and loading in subjects with neurogenic claudication. Objectives To explore possible mechanisms underpinning symptom relief and improved walking tolerance in patients with neurogenic claudication (NC) when pushing a shopping trolley by evaluating the effects of a shopping trolley on spinal posture and loading patterns. Design An exploratory study of kinematic and kinetic changes in walking with and without pushing a shopping trolley in persons with NC symptoms and a comparison with asymptomatic control subjects. Setting A primary care–based musculoskeletal service. Participants Participants (n=8) with NC symptoms who have anecdotally reported symptomatic improvement when walking with a shopping trolley and a control group of asymptomatic persons (n=8). Interventions Shopping trolley. Main Outcome Measures Changes in lumbar spinal sagittal posture and ground reaction force. Results Subjects with NC and asymptomatic controls walked with significantly more flexed spinal posture (increase in flexion, 3.40°; z =3.516; P