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2 METHODS
Sample consists of 10 male patients diagnosed with
AS, age range between 18 and 65 years, regularly
participating in rehabilitation program. Exclusion
criteria were: lower extremity injuries (e.g. ankle
distortion, knee trauma, etc.), postoperative
procedures within 6 months (e.g. anterior cruciate
ligament surgery, hip surgery, etc.), neurological
diseases (e.g. neuropathy, cerebral palsy, etc.),
vascular diseases (e.g. intermittent claudication),
metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetic foot, obesity).
Sample of variables was comprised of three
criterion variables assessing AS – BASMI, BASFI
(Grazio et al, 2009) and ASQoL (a quality of life
instrument specific to ankylosing spondylitis -
Doward et al, 2003), and standard set of 63
quantitative variables and graphics assessing
pedobarographic features of gait within protocol
standardized for descriptive and inferential statistical
methods (Gruić et al, 2015). Normality of
distributions of results was tested with K-S test.
Contributions of pedobarographic variables to results
in dependent variables were tested by simple
correlation and forward stepwise regression analysis.
3 RESULTS
Different pedobarographic variables have different
power to explain AS status due to different
measurement protocols, measuring devices and
univariate and multivariate statistical tools used in
analysis.
Descriptive statistics of subjects’ basic
morphology, AS and pedobarographic status, is
presented in Table 1., along with regression analyses
summary and partial contributions within forward
stepwise regression analysis of contributions of
pedobarographic variables to results in dependent
variables: BASFI, BASDAI and ASQoL.
Simple relation trough inferential statistics reveal
that results in BASFI were found to be in positive
correlation with results in time to achieve maximal
force with right heel (FTMF1R: r=0,69; p=0,03), time
to change load from left heel to forefoot (LTPL:
r=0,76; p=0,01), maximum force in left midfoot
(MML: r=0,68; p=0,03), absolute difference in
average time in the gait cycle, at which the maximum
forces were measured for left and right forefoot zones
(TMAXF_D: r=0,69; p=0,03), in the average time in
the gait cycle, at which the maximum force was
measured for left midfoot zone (TMAXML: r=0,66;
p=0,04), and contact time for left heel (CHL: r=0,76;
p=0,01), and in negative correlation with results in
left leg step length (GSLL: r=-0,78; p=0,01), right leg
step length (GSLR: r=-0,77; p=0,01), and stride
length (GSL: r=-0,80; p=0,01). Results in BASDAI
were found not to be in simple correlation with results
in pedobarographical variables. Results in ASQoL
were found to be in positive correlation with results
in the average time in the gait cycle, at which the
maximum force was measured for left midfoot zone
(TMAXML: r=0,64; p=0,05), in the average time in
the gait cycle, at which the maximum force was
measured for left heel zone (TMAXHL: r=0,64;
p=0,05), and contact time with left midfoot (CML:
r=0,76; p=0,01), and in negative correlation with
results in absolute difference in maximum pressures
of left and right forefoot (MAXPF_D: r=-0,75;
p=0,01), and absolute difference in left and right step
length (GSL_D: r=-0,69; p=0,03).
4 DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Appropriateness of usage of pedobarographic
measure protocol as an extension of regular AS
diagnostic tests/tools was tested.
Contrary to findings of Aydina et al., 2015, i.e.
there is no clinically significant correlation between
clinical scores and static pedobarographic
measurements, and of Gruić, et al. 2016., i.e. plantar
pressure and force gait parameters seem to have no
diagnostic value in determining scoliosis-specific
gait, initial findings in this research, within forward
stepwise regression analysis, found clear statistical
multiple correlation between clinical scores and
dynamic pedobarographic measurements.
Sample size calculations, however, do not allow
immediate and final conclusions about effects and
applicability of final results. Also, additional static
and dynamic tests should complement the diagnostics
that assesses a complex phenomenon such as AS
Partial contribution of individual
pedobarographic variable and limitations to statistical
reasoning of this relation lay within many statistical
tools which are found to be uncommon in research
covering AS and plantar pressure measurements.