INTRODUCTION

The booters are looking at the mechanics of normal gait compared to the gait mechanics while wearing a rehabilitation boot. This examination is important in determining the consequences of the immobilization of the ankle joint, in terms of load, on the knee and hip joints of the same leg as well as the trunk angle. Immobilization of the ankle joint with a rehabilitation boot would occur in instances of fractured ankle, ligamentous tears, stress fractures, and surgical procedures to the foot or ankle joint. Our investigation is unique in that it examines the proximal joints of the leg as opposed to prior research that commonly considers the distal joints. We are interested in finding detrimental effects, if any, in the upper joints of the leg due to possible compensation of loads while wearing the rehabilitation boot.

The purpose of this project is to find the repercussions of wearing a rehabilitation boot. We plan to answer this question by comparing the gait cycle of a subject while wearing a rehabilitation boot to the cycle produced by normal footwear. To answer the question fully, it will involve further investigation of the joint and segment angles of the same leg and trunk.