Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Friction: Problem Solving

Friction: Problem Solving

Friction is an essential force that influences the motion of objects in daily life. Depending on the situation, it can be either beneficial or problematic. Consider a bus with a mass of three megagrams and its center of mass at a specific point, moving along a banked road at a constant speed. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the road is 0.5. Find the maximum angle of the banked road at which the bus would not slip or tip.
Initially, a visual representation of the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Early kinetic responses enhance biomechanical discrimination of falls and recoveries during sudden bilateral slips.

Journal of biomechanics·2026

Same author

Intrinsic and extrinsic feedback generate similar propulsion but distinct biomechanical strategies during split-belt walking.

Frontiers in human neuroscience·2026

Same author

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation Utilizing Gait Metrics as Outcomes - A Scoping Review.

International journal of sports physical therapy·2026

Same author

Feasibility and Preliminary Response of a Novel Training Program on Mobility Parameters in Adolescents with Movement Disorders.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Dopamine-mediated improvements of the step threshold task in Parkinson's disease: validation against clinical measures of motor and cognitive function.

Frontiers in human neuroscience·2025

Same author

Gait quality improves after unilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease patients.

Gait & posture·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Published on: April 30, 2020

Frontal plane margin of stability is increased during texting while walking.

Jane R Marone¹, Pooja B Patel¹, Christopher P Hurt¹

¹Biomechanics Research Laboratories, Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States.

|May 7, 2014

Summary

Texting while walking compromises safety by affecting dynamic stability. Physical demands of holding a phone, not cognitive load, significantly increased the margin of stability during walking.

Keywords:

Dual task Gait Postural control Treadmill walking Young adults

More Related Videos

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Published on: September 18, 2020

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

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

Published on: August 25, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Measuring the Switch Cost of Smartphone Use While Walking

Published on: April 30, 2020

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Published on: September 18, 2020

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

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

Published on: August 25, 2020

Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Human Factors
Neuroscience

Background:

Injurious falls during ambulation are increasingly common, particularly with cell phone use.
Texting while walking may compromise safety by altering the attentional demands of locomotion.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the impact of cognitive and physical demands of texting on frontal plane dynamic stability during walking.
To differentiate the effects of cognitive load versus physical manipulation of a phone on gait stability.

Main Methods:

Twenty experienced texters performed treadmill walking under four conditions: normal walking, cognitive demand (math calculations), physical demand (phone holding), and combined cognitive-physical demand (texting).
Frontal plane minimum margin of stability (MOSmin) was calculated, assessing the center of mass relative to the base of support.
Walking velocity was self-selected and maintained across all conditions.

Main Results:

Both texting and phone-holding conditions significantly increased MOSmin by 6% compared to normal walking.
Cognitive demand alone (mathematical calculations) did not significantly affect MOSmin.
The physical aspect of interacting with a phone appears to be the primary driver of stability changes.

Conclusions:

The physical demands of texting, rather than the cognitive load, significantly affect frontal plane dynamic stability during walking in experienced texters.
Increased MOSmin may indicate a compensatory strategy by the central nervous system to maintain stability.
These findings highlight potential risks associated with phone use during ambulation and inform safety interventions.