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Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds

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Vaulting mechanics successfully predict decrease in walk-run transition speed with incline.

Tatjana Y Hubel¹, James R Usherwood

¹Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK. thubel@rv.ac.uk

Biology Letters

|January 18, 2013

Summary

Human walking speed is limited by the physics of the

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Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Human locomotion
Robotics

Background:

The 'compass gait' model simplifies bipedal walking as an inverted pendulum.
This model predicts walking feasibility limits based on speed and step length.
It suggests energy efficiency at walking speeds due to stiff limbs.

Purpose of the Study:

To extend the theoretical compass gait model to include inclines.
To investigate human gait transitions on level and inclined surfaces.
To compare experimental data with theoretical predictions.

Main Methods:

Theoretical extension of the compass gait model to inclines.
Experimental measurement of step length and frequency in human participants.
Analysis of preferred and maximum walk-run transition speeds on level and inclines.

Main Results:

The extended model showed good agreement with observed walk-run transition speed changes on inclines.
Onset of compliant walking occurred near predicted values for both level and incline walking.
Preferred walk-run transition speeds were below predicted maximums, while actual maximums exceeded predictions.

Conclusions:

Human walking appears constrained by the physics of vaulting, as described by the compass gait model.
Factors beyond vaulting physics may influence preferred walk-run transition speeds.
The study supports the compass gait model's applicability to incline locomotion.