The Effects of Leg Length Discrepancy on Inter-segmental Coordination between the Spine and Pelvis during Gait: a Dynamical Systems Approach

There are assumptions that leg length discrepancy (LLD) may cause low back pain (LBP) by creating pelvic obliquity and lumbar scoliosis, although the exact means by which LLD causes or augments LBP is not clear. While it is evident individuals with LLD display compensatory movements in the lower limbs and pelvis, there is a scarce research regarding the effects of LLD on spinal motion. In this study LLD (1, 2, 3cm) was simulated and using a vector coding technique inter-segmental spine and pelvis coordination during gait was investigated. Circular statistics was used to average the coordination angles between trails and individuals. This investigation did not reveal any distinct differences in pelvis and lumbar spine coordination in the frontal plane during various phases of the gait cycle. High movement variability was related to changes in coordination patterns. Incorporating measures of coordination and movement variability may assist clinicians in the rehabilitation process for the purpose of restoring normal patterns of walking.