Three-dimensional gait analysis of patients with weakness of ankle dorsiflexor as a result of unilateral L5 radiculopathy.

PURPOSE: L5 radiculopathy leads to weakness in ankle dorsiflexor, which can further affect ambulation status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gait patterns associated with L5 radiculopathy.

METHOD: Nineteen patients with ankle dorsiflexor weakness due to L5 radiculopathy and 16 people with normal control underwent three-dimensional gait analysis. The comparison was made with three categories such as involved side, intact side of patients and normal control. The gait cycle was divided into 0% (initial contact), 0-20%, 20-60%, and 60-100% in order to identify the characteristics of involved side in comparison with intact side and normal control.

RESULTS

Velocity, stride length, and cadence were reduced and double support time was increased in involved as well as intact sides of patients as compared to normal control. Maximal hip adduction of involved side was larger than intact side during the entire gait cycle. Maximal ankle dorsiflexion of involved side was smaller than intact side at 0-20% and 60-100%. Ankle power generation was decreased in involved side as compared to intact side and normal control.

CONCLUSION

The pelvis of intact side was tilted downward due to hip abductor weakness of involved side in the stance phase whereas the pelvis of involved side was tilted upward for foot clearance in the swing phase. This contributed to increase in hip adduction of the involved side through the gait cycle. Eccentric contraction of ankle dorsiflexion that normally occurred in the loading response and the early swing phase was not sufficient and, therefore, ankle dorsiflexion was decreased in these gait cycles.