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Identification and characterisation of heel strike transient
Federica Verdini1, M Marcucci, M G Benedetti
1Dipartimento di Ingegneria Informatica, Gestionale e dell'Automazione, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy. fedi@diiga.univpm.it
Gait & Posture
|November 3, 2005
Summary
Researchers investigated the heel strike transient (HST) during barefoot walking. Muscle activation timing significantly influenced the presence and characteristics of the HST, impacting gait dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human locomotion analysis
- Gait analysis
Background:
- The heel strike transient (HST) is a distinct impact event during the stance phase of walking.
- Understanding factors influencing HST characteristics is crucial for analyzing normal and abnormal gait patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of the heel strike transient (HST) during barefoot walking.
- To investigate the correlation between muscle activation timing and the presence/characteristics of the HST.
Main Methods:
- Surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to measure muscle activation timing.
- Lower limb kinematics and kinetics were recorded during barefoot walking in healthy subjects.
- Analysis focused on identifying the presence, duration, and sharpness of the HST.
Main Results:
- A sharp HST occurred in 76% of trials, while a smoother, longer HST was observed in 13.3%.
- The HST was absent in 10.7% of the examined walking trials.
- Altered muscle activation timing was found to correlate with the presence and nature of the HST.
Conclusions:
- Muscle activation timing plays a critical role in modulating the heel strike transient during walking.
- The findings provide insights into the neuromuscular control mechanisms underlying gait impact dynamics.
- Further research can explore clinical implications for gait-related disorders.
