Dynamic Surface Topography Data for Assessing Intra- and Interindividual Variation of Vertebral Motion

This data set provides dynamic surface topography (ST) measurements to assess the intra- and interindividual variation of vertebral motion during gait sequences. Surface topography is also known as video rasterstereography. The orientation of all vertebral levels from vertebra prominens (VP) down to L4 as well as the pelvis were acquired while the test persons were walking at different speed levels (2 km/h, 3 km/h, 4 km/h). Ten gait cycles were recorded in each test sequence. In total, 12 volunteers, 10 males and 2 females in the age between 20 and 70, participated in the study. Only asymptomatic and pain free volunteers were included, i.e. individuals without self-reported spinal problems. The BMI had to be below 30 due to a limitation of the used ST system. Additionally, it was required that the test person was able to walk without problems on the treadmill at each addressed motion speed. On the one hand, this setup allows to figure out the consistency of spinal motion during the gait sequences for the particular individuals even when the speed levels changed. On the other hand, this intra-individual consistency can be compared with the variation which occurs between the individuals.

A first analysis of the data was provided in Haimerl et al. Comprehensive visualization of spinal motion in gait sequences based on surface topography. Human Movement Science. 2022 Feb;81:102919. In this paper, it was demonstrated how the variation in motion characteristics can be visualized in an intuitive way. This was achieved by a separation of the signals into the particular vertebrae and gait cycles. Subsequently, juxtaposition and superimposition techniques were utilized to provide visual representations of the particular types of variation. It was demonstrated that the average vertebral orientation remained highly consistent even when the test persons were walking at different speed levels. Contrary, this orientation varied substantially between the individuals. Thus, the average vertebral orientation represents individual motion characteristics. It constitutes some kind of neutral profile of the spine. The motion caused by the gait cycles oscillates around these neutral positions.

The provided data contains the entire set of test data in this study, including all postural measurements available in the dynamic ST recordings. The utilization of ten gait cycles per test sequence allows a comprehensive processing and analysis of the motion patterns. Thus, the measurements can be utilized for further analysis steps regarding individual characteristics of spinal motion during gait sequences.