Walking speed and incline impact on mediolateral-stability control

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Gait Analysis

Background:

• Controlling body stability is essential for navigating inclined surfaces.
• Healthy individuals adapt gait by reducing stride length and increasing cadence for stability.
• While incline impacts anteroposterior stability, its effect on mediolateral stability remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of walking inclination and speed on mediolateral stability.
• To quantify mediolateral stability using foot placement and explained variance (EV).

Main Methods:

• Fifteen healthy adults walked on a treadmill at moderate (0.83 m/s) and fast (1.0 m/s) speeds on level and +6° inclines.
• Three-dimensional motion capture and surface electromyography (EMG) were utilized.
• Relative explained variance (EV) was calculated to assess foot placement variability.

Main Results:

• Incline did not significantly affect explained variance (EV) in foot placement.
• Walking speed and incline significantly influenced muscle activation (EMG) (p<0.05).
• EMG activity was higher during incline walking compared to level walking.

Conclusions:

• Foot placement analysis revealed distinct effects of inclination and speed on mediolateral stability control.
• Increased walking speed enhances mediolateral stability, while inclines elevate quadriceps muscle activation.
• Findings suggest incorporating varied speeds and targeted muscle strengthening in rehabilitation programs.