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Updated: May 8, 2026
06:21
Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings
Published on: July 26, 2022
Are dynamic phenomena prior to stepping essential to walking?
Y Brenière1, M Cuong Do, S Bouisset
1a Laboratoire dé Physiologie du Mouvement Universite dé Paris-Sud.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|August 16, 2013
Summary
Pre-gait weight shifts are crucial for initiating walking by generating dynamic forces. These preparatory movements create optimal conditions for progression, influencing walking speed and step execution.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human locomotion
- Gait analysis
Background:
- Understanding the biomechanics of gait initiation is essential for analyzing human movement.
- Pre-gait phases significantly influence the dynamics of starting to walk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pre-gait weight shifts in generating dynamic forces for walking initiation.
- To analyze how these forces vary across different walking speeds (slow, normal, fast).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 105 gait initiation movements from five subjects.
- Utilized a large force plate to record biomechanical data.
- Measured parameters including center of gravity progression, center of foot pressure shift, and propulsive forces.
Main Results:
- Pre-gait dynamic phenomena are vital for establishing favorable conditions for walking progression.
- The duration of anticipation and step execution phases were analyzed.
- Support base configuration before stepping impacts the velocity achieved in the first step.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic forces generated before stepping are fundamental to gait initiation.
- Pre-stepping adjustments are critical for efficient and controlled walking onset.
- The study highlights the importance of preparatory movements in locomotion.
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