Gait and increased body weight (potential implications for musculoskeletal disease)

Abstract

Background: Increased body weight is associated with several musculoskeletal diseases. Walking is recommended to facilitate weight loss. Walking has been associated with musculoskeletal pain in overweight groups.

Objective: This paper provides a review of the literature assessing the influence of weight on gait.

Major findings: An association between increased weight, stance phase, double limb support, and stride width may indicate instability in overweight populations. No changes in overweight sagittal, frontal, or transverse plane hip, knee, and ankle ranges have been reported by the literature. The components of joint range have been noted as altered in overweight groups. These alterations are disputed and require further attention. There are no alterations in ground reaction forces when body weight is taken into account in overweight groups. A decrease in the components of sagittal joint moments has been described at the hip, knee, and ankle which may be as a result of a more erect posture adopted to compensate for a reduction in muscular strength. This is supported by the reported increase in sagittal hip and knee absorption phases.

Conclusions: Alterations seen for individuals who are overweight in the frontal and transverse planes have been shown to be associated with musculoskeletal pathology. Further analysis of biomechanics in these planes is required.

Keywords:

• Gait
• Increased body weight
• Musculoskeletal disease