Adaptation of the gait initiation process for stepping on to a new level using a single step

During the gait initiation in level walking, the anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) which precede heel off consist of a forward fall of the whole body and their duration depends on the intended gait velocity related to the step length. The present study examines the adaptation of the gait initiation process for stepping on to a new level. Five subjects performed a single step at natural speed in five experimental conditions. The first condition (C1) was a level walking task whereas the other (stair) conditions required stepping on to a new level (from 8 to 32 cm). The horizontal step length was the same under all conditions. Results showed that the center of mass (CM) forward velocity at the end of the APA, and also until foot contact of the leading limb, decreased from C1 to the stair conditions whereas the peak of forward velocity was similar under all conditions. Moreover, the CM forward displacement up to foot contact was smaller in the stair conditions than in C1. These results suggest the use of a sequential mode of control for the organization of the CM forward dynamics during the stair conditions. This adaptation of the gait initiation process for stepping up is examined mainly from the result that the majority of body lift, which occurred only from the beginning of the double-stance phase, involved a larger CM forward translation than in level walking. As the horizontal step length was the same in all conditions, it can be suggested that the CNS had to reduce the CM forward displacement up to foot contact in the stair conditions, in order to take into account the subsequent greater forward translation.