Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
Kinetic mechanisms to alter walking speed
Michael S Orendurff1, Greta C Bernatz, Jason A Schoen
1Motion Analysis Laboratory, Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA. morendurff@hotmail.com
Changing walking speed relies on ankle joint moments, not just push-off power. This study reveals how ankle kinetics modulate the center of pressure to control acceleration and deceleration during human walking.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Locomotion
- Motor Control
Background:
- Changing walking speed is essential for daily activities but the underlying joint mechanisms are not well understood.
- Existing literature lacks a clear explanation for how humans modulate gait speed dynamically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of joint kinetics, specifically ankle moments, in modulating human walking speed.
- To determine the relationship between ankle joint moments and the control of acceleration and deceleration during gait.
Main Methods:
- Collected 3D kinematic and kinetic data from 12 healthy adults performing steady-state (fast and slow) and dynamic (accelerating and decelerating) walking trials.
- Analyzed sagittal ankle plantarflexor moments during early single limb stance in different walking speed conditions.
Main Results:
- Reduced sagittal ankle plantarflexor moments during acceleration and increased moments during deceleration were observed compared to steady walking.
- Modulation of ankle moments altered the center of pressure, influencing the braking impulse to control the center of mass velocity.
- Speed changes initiated around 15% of the gait cycle, challenging the 'controlled falling' hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Ankle joint kinetics, particularly sagittal ankle moments, are crucial for modulating walking speed.
- The findings suggest that controlling the center of pressure via ankle moments, rather than push-off power, is the primary mechanism for altering gait speed.
- This research provides novel insights into the neuromuscular control strategies for dynamic human walking.
