Biomechanical Analysis of Unplanned Gait Termination According to a Stop-Signal Task Performance: A Preliminary Study

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Neuroscience
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Cognitive inhibition is linked to balance control, but its relationship with gait termination is less understood.
• Investigating response inhibition's role in gait termination is crucial for understanding motor control and fall prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine lower extremity gait parameters during unplanned gait termination (UGT).
• To compare gait parameters between individuals with fast and slow stop-signal reaction times (SSRT).

Main Methods:

• Twenty young adults participated in separate stop-signal and UGT tasks.
• UGT involved stopping on an auditory cue; spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters were analyzed.
• Participants were grouped based on their SSRT.

Main Results:

• The fast SSRT group exhibited significantly greater knee flexion/extension angles and angular velocities during UGT compared to the slow group (p < 0.05).
• Negative correlations were found between SSRT and knee/ankle joint movements during both phases of UGT (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Faster SSRT is associated with enhanced preparation and adjustment of knee and ankle joints for gait termination.
• The study highlights a connection between response inhibition capacity and the ability to modify gait patterns when required.