Does Telephone Use While Walking Affect Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Gait?

Abstract

Telephone use is an indispensable part of our daily life and provides us convenience in many areas. However, it brings with it many negativities due to its habit-forming. Continuing to use the phone while doing many things during the day makes it difficult to focus on the work being done. This may result in an accident or injury. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of phone use while walking on the spatio-temporal characteristics of gait. Fifty-three healthy volunteers aged 20-30 years (mean age: 23.00±1.60 years; 31 females, 22 males) were included in the study. At the beginning of the study, individuals were asked to walk 10 meters at their own walking speed. Afterwards, they were asked to complete the 10-meter distance by listening to music on the cell phone, texting, surfing social media and playing games, respectively. During all these activities, the gait characteristics of individuals were recorded using the BTS G-Walk Gait Analysis System, such as gait speed, cadence, step length, stride length, stance phase, swing phase, gait quality and pelvic symmetry. Significant disturbances in gait speed, cadence, stride length, stance phase, swing phase and symmetry of pelvic rotation were observed due to cell phone use during walking (p<0.05). The use of phones while walking causes abnormal changes in the normal walking period and disrupts the gait symmetry.

Keywords

• Healthy volunteer
• Cell phone
• Gait analysis.
• Gait analysis

Yürürken Telefon Kullanımı Yürümenin Spatio-temporal Karakteristiklerini Etkiler mi?

Öz

Telefon kullanımı günlük hayatımızın vazgeçilmez bir parçası olup, bize pek çok alanda kolaylık sağlamaktadır. Ancak, alışkanlık yapması nedeniyle pek çok olumsuzluğu da beraberinde getirmektedir. Gün içinde pek çok işi yaparken telefon kullanımının devam etmesi yapılan işe odaklanmayı zorlaştırmaktadır. Bu durum, kaza veya yaralanmalarla sonuçlanabilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yürürken telefon kullanımının yürümenin spatio-temporal karakteristikleri üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Çalışmaya 20-30 yaş arası 53 gönüllü sağlıklı birey (yaş ortalaması:23,00±1,60 yıl; 31 kadın, 22 erkek) dahil edildi. Çalışmanın başlangıcında bireylerin 10 metrelik mesafeyi kendi yürüme hızlarında yürümesi istendi. Daha sonra 10 metrelik mesafeyi sırasıyla cep telefonunda müzik dinleyerek, metin yazarak, sosyal medyada dolaşarak ve oyun oynayarak tamamlaması istendi. Bütün bu aktiviteler sırasında bireylerin yürüme karakteristikleri BTS G-Walk Yürüme Analiz Sistemi kullanılarak yürüme hızı, kadans, adım uzunluğu, çift adım uzunluğu, duruş fazı, sallanma fazı, yürüme kalitesi ve pelvis simetrisi kaydedilmiştir. Yürüme sırasında cep telefonu kullanımı nedeniyle yürüyüşün hızı, kadansı, çift adım uzunluğu, duruş fazı, sallanma fazı ve pelvik rotasyon simetrisinde belirgin bozukluklar görülmüştür (p<0.05). Telefonların, yürürken kullanımı normal yürüyüş periyodunda anormal değişikliklere sebep olmakta ve yürüyüş simetrisini bozmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sağlıklı gönüllü
• Cep telefonu
• Yürüme analizi

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