Comparison of walking with wearable gait analysis system in patients undergoing lumbar spinal stenosis surgery

This study was planned to compare the gait in patients who underwent Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) surgery in healthy and patient groups. A total of 48 individuals, 24 individuals with LSS with a mean age of 48,66±10,05 years and 24 healthy individuals with a mean age of 46,58±13,07 years, participated in the study. Demographic information of the participants was recorded. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess disability status. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used for pain assessment and SF-12 Quality of Life Scale was used for quality of life. The 10- meter walk test was used to assess gait function and the BTS G-Walk Wireless Gait Analysis System was used for spatio-temporal parameters of gait. When the gait parameters of individuals with LSS were compared with healthy individuals, it was found that the ten-meter walking time increased, while walking speed and pelvic oblique symmetry decreased in individuals with LSS (p<0,05). When the parameters were compared with normative values, cadence, walking speed, pelvic symmetry, pelvic tilt symmetry and pelvic oblique symmetry were found to be decreased in LSS patients (p<0,05). In the comparison of the affected extremities of the patient group with normative values, it was found that gait quality decreased and stance phase, single support phase and double stride length increased; in the unaffected extremities, gait quality decreased and double stride length increased (p<0,05). Spatio-temporal features of gait are affected in patients with LSS. Patients have impaired gait function and more asymmetric pelvic mobility. Therefore, taking gait function and pelvic movements into consideration in physiotherapy evaluations will be more beneficial in terms of rehabilitation. Keywords: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis; Gait; Gait Assessment