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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
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Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
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Ground reaction forces during level ground walking with body weight unloading.
Ana M F Barela1, Paulo B de Freitas1, Melissa L Celestino1
1Instituto de Ciências da Atividade Física e Esporte, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy
|January 16, 2015
Summary
Partial body weight support (BWS) systems alter ground reaction forces (GRF) during walking. Increased unloading reduced GRF magnitude, but weight acceptance rate remained consistent in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Human Locomotion
Background:
- Partial body weight support (BWS) systems are common in gait training for individuals with impairments.
- Investigating BWS effects on ground reaction forces (GRF) in healthy adults is crucial for refining rehabilitation protocols.
- Understanding how BWS impacts gait on level ground informs clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varying degrees of body weight unloading on GRF parameters.
- To analyze how healthy young adults' gait is affected by BWS on level ground.
- To provide data for optimizing BWS-assisted gait rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen healthy young adults participated in the study.
- Participants walked on a level surface with a BWS system at 0%, 15%, and 30% unloading.
- Ground reaction force (GRF) parameters, including peaks, valleys, rates, and impulse, were measured using force plates.
Main Results:
- Walking speed decreased as BWS unloading increased.
- The magnitude of GRF forces decreased with higher levels of body weight unloading.
- Weight acceptance rate remained consistent across all BWS conditions.
Conclusions:
- Different levels of body weight unloading significantly alter GRF parameters during gait.
- Weight acceptance rate is a robust parameter, showing consistency across varying BWS conditions.
- Findings suggest that BWS influences gait dynamics, with implications for rehabilitation strategies.
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