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'Haste makes waste': The tradeoff between walking speed and target-stepping accuracy
Melvyn Roerdink1, Daphne J Geerse1, C Lieke E Peper1
1Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, the Netherlands.
Gait & Posture
|February 5, 2021
Summary
Walking faster reduces stepping accuracy, consistent with the speed-accuracy tradeoff. Stepping inconsistency (VE) and bias (CE) best parameterize accuracy, especially on irregular paths.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human locomotion
- Motor control
Background:
- Precise foot placement is crucial for safe walking on challenging terrain.
- Increased walking speed often leads to reduced stepping accuracy, increasing fall risk.
- A speed-accuracy tradeoff likely exists in tasks requiring precise foot placement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and parameterize the tradeoff between walking speed and stepping accuracy.
- To determine the best methods for quantifying stepping accuracy under varying conditions.
- To compare stepping accuracy on regular versus irregular target spacing.
Main Methods:
- Participants (n=20) walked at different speeds over sequences of stepping targets.
- Stepping accuracy was measured using overall (RMSE), variable (VE), and constant (CE) errors.
- Experiment 2 compared preferred walking speed and accuracy on regular and irregular target spacing.
Main Results:
- Root mean square error (RMSE) and variable error (VE) increased linearly with walking speed.
- Constant error (CE) indicated overshooting or undershooting targets based on inter-target spacing.
- Faster speeds amplified CE effects, particularly after short or long inter-target gaps.
Conclusions:
- Faster walking speed significantly impairs stepping accuracy, confirming the speed-accuracy tradeoff.
- Variable error (VE) effectively quantifies stepping inconsistency across speeds.
- Constant error (CE) is essential for characterizing stepping bias on irregular surfaces.
