Asymmetrical spatiotemporal adjustment between the limbs after self-mobilization exercise program

[Purpose] To examine the immediate effect of self-mobilization exercise program on spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic parameters in gait. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-two healthy adults were randomly allocated to the Exercise group that performed three warm-up positions and seven small movements or the Control group that lay supine. Before and immediately after the interventions, we assessed participants' gait at their self-selected comfortable speeds to capture spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and ground reaction force (GRF). [Results] In the Exercise group, the double-support and right stance phases of gait remained unchanged, whereas the left stance phase revealed significant changes after the intervention. Furthermore, the Exercise group demonstrated significant decreases in peak hip flexion and increases in peak hip extension bilaterally, while maintaining a more upright trunk position. Neither group showed significant changes in GRFs or joint angular velocities. [Conclusion] The exercise program altered the dynamic control of the trunk-hip motion in gait. The kinematic changes without concomitant changes in force and joint angular velocity potentially reflect an adjustment of the movement control strategy.