SPATIO-TEMPORAL DIFFERENCES OF LOCOMOTION OF ADULT MALES WITH NORMAL WEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Obesity has been associated with the presence of structural and functional adaptations that may limit movement control.

Objective:

To determine the effect of overweight on spatio-temporal variables of locomotion in young and active men.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study of non-probability sampling, with 55 subjects with normal weight (BMI ≤25) and 22 overweight subjects (BMI >25). Body mass index and percentage of fat mass and lean mass were analyzed in both groups, with a multi-frequency bioimpedanciometer (Inbody 230). The kinematic variables of locomotion were also analyzed with a pressure platform system (GaitRite).

Results:

The overweight group showed a significant decrease in the swing phase and monopodal stance phase (p <0.001) with an increase in the stance phase and double stance phase (p<0.001) in relation to the normal weight group.

Conclusion:

The reduction of the swing phase and the increase of the stance phase and double stance phase presented by the overweight group may be a result of increased instability that occurs during gait due to overweight.

Keywords:
biomechanical phenomena; locomotion; obesity; spatio-temporal analysis.