Does lower limb preference influence gait initiation?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Gait initiation (GI) is crucial for mobility.
• Previous research primarily examined GI using the preferred limb.
• The impact of using the non-preferred limb for GI remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of lower limb preference on kinematic and kinetic parameters during gait initiation.
• To compare gait initiation using the preferred versus non-preferred limb.

Main Methods:

• Subjects initiated gait with either their preferred or non-preferred limb upon a visual cue.
• Measured parameters included GI phase duration, center of mass (CM) displacement, center of pressure-CM distance, step width, and medio-lateral impulse.
• Analysis focused on kinematic and kinetic differences between preferred and non-preferred limb starts.

Main Results:

• Starting with the non-preferred limb led to greater impulse during the anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) phase, facilitating body weight transfer.
• Preferential limb starts showed more lateral CM displacement during execution and wider steps.
• Asymmetries in frontal plane body motion were observed during weight transfer and step execution, with the non-preferred limb providing greater lateral ground impulse.

Conclusions:

• Lower limb preference significantly influences gait initiation biomechanics.
• The non-preferred limb demonstrates distinct compensatory strategies during gait initiation, particularly in impulse generation.
• Findings suggest potential clinical relevance for rehabilitation in individuals with postural asymmetry or unilateral limb dyscontrol.