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Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
Gait strategy changes with acceleration to accommodate the biomechanical constraint on push-off propulsion
Keonyoung Oh1, Juhyun Baek, Sukyung Park
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Biomechanics
|October 2, 2012
Summary
During gait acceleration, push-off propulsion slightly increases, contrary to energy-saving models. Instead, increased mechanical work during single support drives faster walking, suggesting feasible push-off constraints influence human locomotion.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Locomotion
- Gait Analysis
Background:
- Steady walking relies on push-off propulsion to offset energy loss from heel strikes.
- Transient gait activities like acceleration may alter energy optimization strategies.
- The role of push-off in acceleration and energy optimality needs further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if push-off propulsion is a primary energy source for gait acceleration.
- To analyze the energetic optimality of accelerated gait in a bipedal walking model.
- To compare mechanical work during single and double support phases during acceleration.
Main Methods:
- Over-ground walking experiments with seven healthy young subjects.
- Measurements included ground reaction forces (GRF) and leg kinematics.
- Analysis compared mechanical work during single and double support phases across various speeds and accelerations.
Main Results:
- Push-off propulsion increased only slightly during acceleration, not proportionally as predicted by energy-minimizing models.
- A significant increase in mechanical work during the single support phase was observed.
- Observed push-off propulsion was constrained, despite acceleration demands.
Conclusions:
- Gait acceleration accommodates feasible push-off propulsion constraints.
- Energy optimization strategies shift during accelerated walking.
- Human gait mechanics prioritize certain constraints during dynamic movements.
