Measuring changes in step parameters during an exhausting running exercise

A treadmill with four force transducers was used to analyze gait during running. 39 volunteers ran on a treadmill until they were exhausted. The step parameter variances showed a very distinct change in time. 17 subjects showed a sudden increase in variance. The other 22 subjects did not show such an effect, probably because they stopped too soon. This was confirmed by lactate measurements. In conclusion, the described treadmill is able to register continuously the running pattern of healthy volunteers. During an exhausting exercise, the running pattern becomes irregular in the last phase of the exercise. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.