Evaluation of Gait Symmetry in Upper Extremity Burn Injuries

Evaluation of Gait Symmetry in Patients With Unilateral Upper Extremity Burn Injury

Thirty patients with unilateral burn injury, and 60 healthy subjects will be included in this study. Participants with burn injury will evaluate with the following assessment tools: Demographic data; age, gender, height, body mass index; burn characteristics; type of burn injury, degree of burn injury, localization of burn injury and total burn surface area will be recorded. Gait parameters (step length, stride length, base support, step time, cycle time, cadence, velocity, single support, double support, swing ( % of gait cycle) and stance (% of gait cycle). will be recorded via computerized system. And gait symmetry will be calculated via formule. Participants' kinesiophobia level will be evaluated with Tampa kinesiophobia scale. Their pain will be assessed by visual analog scale. Their arm swing will be evaluated by a scale.

Thirty individuals with lower extremity burn injury and sixty healthy subjects will be included in this study. Participants with burn injury will be included if they are aged of 18-50, able to walk independently at least 10 meters. Healthy subjects will be included if there are no orthopedic, neurological or musculoskeletal disorders that affect gait.

1. Group: 30 Patients with burn injury
2. Group: 30 healthy subjects (When evaluating the gait analysis, their arm will not be restricted (Their natural walking)
3. Group : 30 healthy subject (When evaluating the gait analysis, their arm will be restricted )

Participants will evaluate with the following assessment tools: Demographic data; age, gender, height, body mass index; burn characteristics; type of burn injury, degree of burn injury, localization of burn injury and total burn surface area will be recorded.

All subjects' gait analysis will be conducted via GAITRite (computerized) system.

GAITRite system for gait parameters (step length, stride length, base support, step time, cycle time, cadence, velocity, single support, double support, swing ( % of gait cycle) and stance (% of gait cycle), Tampa Kinesiophobia scale for kinesiophobia level, visual analog scale for pain, a scale that developed by us for arm swing will be used.

These evaluations will be applied one time for participants. These evaluations will be made within 5 days following burn injury.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of upper extremity burn injury
• must be able to walk independently
• Control group consists of healthy adults with the similar demographic characteristics as experimental group.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Walking with assist device
• Having a visual deficits
• Having an orthopedic problems that affect gait
• Having a neurological disorders
• Having a musculoskeletal disorders that affect gait
• Having an undergone orthopedic surgery