Evaluation of gait dynamics by nonlinear analysis and its clinical application

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350620
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Science
• Principal Investigator: Makabe Hitoshi 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (60363743)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KANZAKI HIDETO 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (10381352) ; MINAMISAWA TADAYOSHI 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (40347208)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 歩行 / ストライドインターバル / 非線形解析 / スケーリング指数 / 近似エントロピー / 認知課題 / 長期相関 / 規則性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was aimed at analyzing stride interval (SI) variability during gait by using nonlinear analysis and examining its clinical usefulness. The scaling exponent (α) and approximate entropy (ApEn) were determined as evaluation parameters in the nonlinear analysis. α showed long-range correlation in SI variability, while ApEn presented regularity in SI variability. The results of this study showed a significant difference in α and ApEn by walking stick use and leg-length difference. Significant differences were observed in α and ApEn, depending on age, and the difference became remarkable, especially by loading a cognitive task. Those may be caused by deterioration of brain network function during gait due to aging. Hence, α and ApEn may be useful indicators of deterioration of brain network function.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学・福祉工学