ASSESSMENT OF GROUND REACTION FORCE OF PREGNANT WOMEN DURING WALKING

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyse kinematic changes in gait patterns in anteroposterior and vertical plane of GRF between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant women (n=8) completed 5 gait trials on a walkway (4,8 m) at a self-selected velocity of gait, where force and temporal characteristics of gait were sampled and displayed by Simi Motion (version 9.0.5) as force-time curves for both lower limbs. Results: All GRF peaks in anteroposterior and vertical plane for both feet increased in the comparison between the 1st and 2nd measurement. We can register just only one variable, in which we revealed decreased force (F2 - right foot: 10.56 N). More important are changes occur in the time to reach these GRFs peaks. In the right foot, there are F1 and F2 shifts for the anteroposterior plane and F3 and F4 for the vertical plane closer to midfoot. In the left foot there are shifts F1 and F3 closer to the edge of the heel and F2 and F4 closer to midfoot. Conclusion: Kinetic changes of GRF are observed here, but generally it will not cause substantial and visible differences in the gait patterns within this focus group. Walking is mildly slower and more careful because of changes in mass distribution and biomechanical changes.