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Related Experiment Videos

Recovery from perturbations during paced walking.

Lars I E Oddsson1, Conrad Wall, Michael D McPartland

  • 1NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University, 19 Deerfield St., 4th floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA. loddsson@bu.edu

Gait & Posture
|January 27, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Healthy individuals recover gait stability within three steps after a mechanical perturbation. Mediolateral sternum displacement and step width adjustments demonstrate the central nervous system's (CNS) balance control strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Locomotion

Background:

  • Gait stability is crucial for preventing falls.
  • Understanding how the central nervous system (CNS) responds to perturbations is key to rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a standardized test for gait stability recovery.
  • To analyze metrics characterizing gait recovery after mechanical perturbation.

Main Methods:

  • 12 healthy subjects walked on a 12m walkway.
  • Mechanical platform translated the foot diagonally during mid-stance.
  • Measured sternum medio-lateral (ML) displacement and shank positions.

Main Results:

  • Subjects adjusted step width (widening/narrowing) based on perturbation direction.

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  • Sternum recovery profiles were asymmetric but similar in shape across subjects.
  • Complete gait recovery was achieved within 3-6 steps post-perturbation.

    • Conclusions:

    • The CNS employs specific strategies to maintain the center of mass (COM) within the base of support.
    • Gait stability recovery is quantifiable and shows consistent patterns in healthy individuals.