Properties of locomotor generators in man

There is little behavioural information on either the functional capacities or the limitations of the coupling system between the locomotor generators of limbs. In this experiment, 10 subjects produced maximal stepping frequencies under eight randomly-assigned conditions consisting of all combinations of standing and sitting, one leg and two legs, and auditorily-cued or self-paced. There was a significant difference in the mean maximum frequency while sitting and standing with higher frequencies found under the seated condition. There were no significant differences between the one-leg and two-legs condition and no significant difference was found between cued- and self-paced stepping. In three subjects who underwent ten training sessions, under all conditions, no significant learning effect was found. Both swing and stance phases showed a decrease with increasing frequency during cued stepping. These results are discussed in terms of the functional properties of locomotor generators in man.