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Adaptations in interlimb and intralimb coordination to asymmetrical loading in human walking
Jeffrey M Haddad1, Richard E A van Emmerik, Saunders N Whittlesey
1Motor Control Laboratories, Department of Exercise Science, University of Massachusetts, 110 Totman building, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. jhaddad@excsci.umass.edu
Gait & Posture
|August 16, 2005
Summary
Unilateral leg loading alters interlimb coordination during walking, while intralimb coordination remains largely unchanged. This suggests gait adaptations primarily occur between limbs, not within them.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Science
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Understanding how the human body adapts to external perturbations is crucial for gait research.
- Previous studies suggest a strong coupling within limbs during locomotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intralimb and interlimb kinematic adaptations to unilateral leg loading during walking.
- To determine if leg loading alters interlimb coordination while keeping intralimb coordination invariant.
Main Methods:
- Twelve subjects walked on a treadmill at their preferred speed.
- Bilateral 3-D kinematic data were collected under varying leg load conditions.
- Continuous relative phase (CRP) analysis, including root-mean-square (RMS) and cross-correlation, assessed intralimb and interlimb coordination.
Main Results:
- Interlimb coordination showed significant changes with increased leg load, assessed by both cross-correlation and RMS.
- Intralimb coordination remained relatively invariant, with cross-correlation values near 1.0.
- Some RMS changes were noted in intralimb coordination on the loaded side, but interlimb changes were more pronounced.
Conclusions:
- Gait adaptations to unilateral leg loading occur at both intralimb and interlimb levels, with a greater effect observed at the interlimb level.
- Findings support the concept of tighter intralimb coupling, with interlimb mechanisms driving most adaptations.
- Differences in interlimb and intralimb coordination adaptation may offer insights into pathological gait patterns.