Strategies used for unconstrained direction change during walking

Full functional mobility requires adaptations, such as turning, to the basic straight locomotor pattern. The aim was to assess the mechanics of completing a complex turning manoeuvre. A full 3-dimensional kinematic and kinetic analysis of the ipsilateral limb was carried out during both straight gait and unconstrained turning through 90 degrees. 10 healthy university students participated. Analysis indicated that two distinctive substrategies of the spin turn-ipsilateral pivot and ipsilateral crossover-were employed. The ipsilateral pivot was the more dynamic turn and required two additional power phases at the ankle and hip to facilitate the pivot phase. The ipsilateral crossover uses a fall into the new direction. The spin turn is a more complex action than previously indicated.