Abstract

Background: Deep squatting is traditionally adopted for self-care, activities of daily living (ADL), leisure and occupation in India and other parts of the world. However western life style is gradually replacing squatting with sitting postures. Given the fact that there is now huge variation in the use of deep squatting in people’s daily lives in India.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore differences in adaptations in lower limb kinematics among people with varying levels of exposure to deep squatting.
Method and Materials: Kinematic analysis of deep squat was performed in 8 adults 30-45yr of age who don’t squat daily(non-squatters), 10 adults who squat on a daily basis(ADL- squatters) and 8 adults who use squatting very regularly for long durations of time (occupational-squatters). Five trials of deep squat were captured using Vicon Nexus software at 100 Hz. Full body plug-in-gait model was used with 4 additional markers on left-right iliac crests and medial femoral-condyle to allow for reconstruction of marker trajectories lost during parts of the movement
Results: BMI was used as a covariate to account for differences in the lifestyle characteristics. There were significant differences between groups in maximum knee flexion (p

Key words: : biomechanics; motion analysis; deep squatting