Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (2): 375-360.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.02.043

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Motor coordination mode of transverse pelvic and thoracic rotations during walking in healthy pregnant women

Wu Wen-hua 1,2, Onno G Meijer○1,2,3 , Huang Zi-jie4, Liu Xian-xiang5   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, 2 Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou   362000, Fujian Province, China; 3 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 4 Quanzhou Normal College, Quanzhou   362000, Fujian Province, China; 5 Department of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou   350108, Fujian Province, China
  • Online:2010-01-08 Published:2010-01-08
  • About author:Wu Wen-hua☆, Ph.D., Chief physician, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China; Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian Province, China wenhuawu@hotmail.com
  • Supported by:

    Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Fujian Province University, No.NCETFJ-0611*; the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, No.2005.383*; Program for Young Scientific Talents in Fujian Province, No.2004J048*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, the female body undergoes a number of physiological and physical changes. One would expect that the demand on the musculoskeletal system will be considerable and there may be some changes of posture or gait during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the coordination of axial rotations of pelvis and thorax during walking in healthy pregnant women, and to quantify the difference between normal female and pregnant women.
METHODS: A volunteer sample of 12 maternal subjects with pregnancy between 20 and 34 weeks and 13 healthy nulliparous females served as controls. The comfortable velocity of walking, the axial rotations of pelvis and thorax, as well as coordination between these rotations were compared between healthy pregnant and healthy nulliparous women. The comfortable velocity and maximum velocity of walking were measured in two groups. Index of harmonicity of pelvic and thoracic rotations was calculated. The coordination between these rotations was characterised by Fourier phase relationship and coupling strength.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The comfortable walking velocity was significantly reduced in pregnant women. There was no significant difference with respect to Tempa Scale, index of harmonicity of transverse pelvic and thoracic rotations, phase relation and coupling strength between these rotations between the pregnant women and controls. No effect of pregnancy on the coordination between transverse pelvic and thoracic rotations was found. The pregnant women were able to adapt the changes caused by the pregnancy in terms of gait coordination. The pregnant women are suggested to reduce comfortable walking velocity in order to economise the energy cost.

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