A model to study the relationship between muscular weakness and gait velocity in hemiparetic subjects

This study proposes a biomechanical model to study the relationship between weakness of the plantarflexor muscles and gait velocity in hemiparetic subjects. The model calculates the muscular utilization ratio of the plantaflexors during gait by comparing the plantarflexion moment used while walking at maximal velocity to the maximal moment of the plantaflexors estimated from dynamometric measurements. Results revealed that the proposed model can be used to determine if a muscle group potentially limits the gait performance of hemiparetic subjects.