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Related Experiment Videos

The double contact phase in walking children.

G J Bastien1, N C Heglund, B Schepens

  • 1Unité de Physiologie et Biomécanique de la Locomotion, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1 Place P. de Coubertin, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|July 25, 2003
PubMed
Summary

During walking, the internal work between legs (W(int,dc)) is significant, comprising over 40% of external work. This biomechanical factor is size-independent when normalized by Froude number, revealing universal gait dynamics.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human locomotion
  • Gait analysis

Background:

  • During walking's double contact phase, legs interact, performing simultaneous positive and negative work.
  • Internal leg work (W(int,dc)) is often excluded from traditional positive muscular work measurements.
  • Understanding W(int,dc) is crucial for a comprehensive analysis of walking energetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of walking speed and subject size on internal leg work (W(int,dc)).
  • To determine how W(int,dc) scales with body size and speed.
  • To compare W(int,dc) across different age groups (children and adults).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized force platforms to measure ground reaction forces during walking.
  • Analyzed W(int,dc) in children (3-12 years) and adults.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examined the relationship between W(int,dc), speed, and body size, including normalization using the Froude number.

    • Main Results:

    • W(int,dc) exhibited an inverted U-shaped curve with speed in both children and adults.
    • The maximum W(int,dc) was size-independent but occurred at higher speeds for larger subjects.
    • When normalized by the Froude number, W(int,dc) peaked around 0.3 in all subjects, minimizing size-related differences.
    • Maximal W(int,dc) accounted for over 40% of external work (W(ext)) in both groups.

    Conclusions:

    • Speed-dependent changes in W(int,dc) are largely explained by body size variations.
    • Internal leg work is a substantial component of the overall energetic cost of walking.
    • The Froude number provides a robust normalization for comparing gait biomechanics across different sizes.