Does treadmill workstation use affect user's kinematic gait symmetry?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human factors engineering
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Treadmill workstations offer potential health benefits but their impact on gait and work performance is not fully understood.
• Previous research has not comprehensively analyzed kinematic gait symmetry during combined treadmill walking and computer tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of treadmill workstation use on lower body kinematic gait symmetry.
• To compare gait symmetry during treadmill workstation use versus overground and treadmill walking while performing a typing task.

Main Methods:

• Ten healthy adults (6 males, 4 females) participated in this pilot study.
• A motion capture system recorded lower body motion (hip, knee, ankle joint rotations).
• Kinematic data were analyzed and compared across three conditions: overground walking, treadmill walking, and treadmill workstation use during typing.

Main Results:

• Overall lower body kinematic gait asymmetries were comparable across all tested conditions.
• Users of treadmill workstations exhibited unique asymmetric knee flexion during the early gait cycle (left knee significantly more flexed than the right).
• This suggests the cognitive demands of the secondary task (typing) interact with gait mechanics.

Conclusions:

• Treadmill workstation use can influence lower body kinematic gait symmetry, specifically affecting knee flexion patterns.
• The cognitive content of a concurrent task significantly impacts the interaction between walking and other activities.
• Further research is warranted to fully understand the biomechanical implications of treadmill workstations.