Sagittal and frontal plane joint mechanics throughout the stance phase of walking in adolescents who are obese.

The incidence of obesity has increased dramatically in children and adolescents, and with this comes health risks typically associated with adult obesity. Among those health consequences are musculoskeletal damage and pain. Previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent effects of increased body mass on movement patterns in adults and children who are obese. The purpose of this study was to investigate frontal and sagittal plane mechanics during walking in adolescents who were obese. Adolescents (12-17 years) who were obese were recruited from a weight management program, and healthy weight peers (matched for age, race and gender) were recruited from the community. Three-dimensional motion analysis of the lower extremities was performed during walking. Analysis of kinematic and kinetic data from 36 adolescents who were obese and healthy weight revealed significant differences in mechanics at all lower extremity joints in both sagittal and frontal planes. Subjects who were obese seemed to use movement strategies that minimized joint moments, especially at the hip and knee during walking. The lower extremity mechanics during walking in the subjects who were obese raise concerns about maintenance of structural integrity of the lower extremity joints over time, given the repeated high stresses across the joints even with walking. Neither the long term consequences of these atypical movement patterns, nor the ability to alter these patterns through therapeutic activities or weight loss has been investigated in adolescents who are obese. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.