Objective: The aim of the present work is to investigate the segmental movement patterns of the spine during normal treadmill gait.
Design: The spine movement during treadmill gait of ten healthy subjects (five men and five women) has been investigated using an optoelectronic measuring system.
Methods: The spine was divided into seven segments, from C(7) to S(2). The subjects walked with their normal speed. All data were normalized to per cent of the gait cycle. The normal patterns of the spine segment movements were found in the sagittal and the frontal planes.
Results: The behaviour of the spine can be described as the motion of a stiff element with superimposed small, inter-segmental movements. These small inter-segmental movements were found both in the sagittal and the frontal planes.
Conclusions: The small inter-segmental movements could play an important role in the reduction of the energy consumption during gait and in maintenance of the equilibrium.
Relevance: Any disability affecting the spine should result in changing spine movement pattern during gait, thus changing the overall gait pattern. Therefore, treatment and rehabilitation should not discard the influence of the spine malfunctioning, regardless of its nature.