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Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
Intersegmental coordination during human locomotion: does planar covariation of elevation angles reflect central
Halim Hicheur1, Alexander V Terekhov, Alain Berthoz
1Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Perception et de l'Action, Collège de France, Paris, France. halim.hicheur@college-de-france.fr
Journal of Neurophysiology
|June 23, 2006
Summary
Human lower limb coordination during walking and running shows a planar constraint. This coordination arises primarily from foot and shank movements, not central nervous system commands.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Locomotion
- Motor Control
Background:
- Intersegmental coordination is crucial for efficient human locomotion.
- Previous research suggested planar covariation of lower limb elevation angles reflects central motor control constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origins of planar covariation in human lower limb elevation angles during various locomotor tasks.
- To analyze how intersegmental coordination changes with different locomotion modes and speeds.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of spatiotemporal patterns of elevation and joint angles (hip, knee, ankle) bilaterally in the sagittal plane.
- Utilized temporal cross-correlation and phase relationships to assess kinematic variable coordination.
Main Results:
- Planar covariation of foot, shank, and thigh elevation angles is mainly driven by the strong correlation between foot and shank angles.
- Thigh elevation angle independently contributes to the covariation pattern.
- Locomotor mode and speed significantly alter intersegmental coordination patterns.
Conclusions:
- The observed planar covariation does not appear to be a direct reflection of central neural constraints.
- Distinct control mechanisms may exist for thigh motion.
- Both passive mechanical factors and active neural control contribute to the regulation of human locomotor patterns.
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