Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

1022

Date

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Biomedical Engineering

Committee Chair

John L Williams

Committee Member

Esra Roan

Committee Member

Audrey Zucker-Levin

Committee Member

William M Mihalko

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of body mass index (BMI) on stability and biomechanics during single leg stance (SLS) and stair descent (SD). A group of six high BMI subjects was compared with an age-matched control group of eleven young 'normal weight' (BMI < 25) adults. The high BMI individuals descended the stairs more slowly with longer support times. Their supporting limbs experienced larger hip, knee, and ankle sagittal-plane moments (normalized), smaller frontal plane hip moments, and larger frontal plane knee moments at toe-off of the swing limb, compared to controls. At swing limb touchdown, the supporting limb experienced hip flexion moments as opposed to extension moments, larger knee adduction moments, and lower normalized anterior ground reaction forces compared to controls. No differences were found for the investigated parameters during SLS. Stair descent differences in the high BMI participants suggest possible cumulative joint overloading, greater osteoarthritis risk, and decreased stability.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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