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Mean horizontal and vertical force time series for the four pre-step conditions in different gradients.
Source publication
Background
Gait initiation in level walking is suggested to take three steps before reaching steady-state walking speed. In sloped gait, it is not clear if the general recommendation of level gait can be used.
Research question
The aim of this study was to investigate (1) if steady-state walking speed is reached within four steps in sloped gait, a...
Context in source publication
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Citations
... As a result, higher sample sizes should be used to confirm the findings of this study. Fourth, in the current study, we excluded the first and last steps of each sequence (initiation and termination) to reduce the acceleration or deceleration states of walking, However, some studies reported that healthy adults reach steady-state walking speed with the third step [67,68]. It seems the 3rd or even the 4th step might be the appropriate onset of steady state during walking. ...
The age-related changes of gait symmetry in healthy children concerning individual joint and muscle activation data have previously been widely studied. Extending beyond individual joints or muscles, identifying age-related changes in the coordination of multiple joints or muscles (i.e., muscle synergies and kinematic synergies) could capture more closely the underlying mechanisms responsible for gait symmetry development. To evaluate the effect of age on the symmetry of the coordination of multiple joints or muscles during childhood, we measured gait symmetry by kinematic and EMG data in 39 healthy children from 2 years old to 14 years old, divided into three equal age groups: preschool children (G1; 2.0–5.9 years), children (G2; 6.0–9.9 years), pubertal children (G3; 10.0–13.9 years). Participants walked barefoot at a self-selected walking speed during three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA). Kinematic synergies and muscle synergies were extracted with principal component analysis (PCA) and non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF), respectively. The synergies extracted from the left and right sides were compared with each other to obtain a symmetry value. Statistical analysis was performed to examine intergroup differences. The results showed that the effect of age was significant on the symmetry values extracted by kinematic synergies, while older children exhibited higher kinematic synergy symmetry values compared to the younger group. However, no significant age-related changes in symmetry values of muscle synergy were observed. It is suggested that kinematic synergy of lower joints can be asymmetric at the onset of independent walking and showed improving symmetry with increasing age, whereas the age-related effect on the symmetry of muscle synergies was not demonstrated. These data provide an age-related framework and normative dataset to distinguish age-related differences from pathology in children with neuromotor disorders.
... Strutzenberger et al. [26] demonstrated that a sloping gait was also considered a steady gait at the 3rd step. From the results of this study, it is considered that the stepping motion includes unstable motion at the start of the motion as well as gait, and the steady stepping motion is after the 3rd step. ...
... Therefore, the stepping motion might be at a constant speed immediately at the beginning. Temporal parameters such as gait cadence and contact time were significantly different between the 1st and 2nd steps and the 2nd and 3rd steps [26]. This was a contradictory result to this study. ...
... This was a contradictory result to this study. In addition, the ratio of the brake and propulsive impulse of the GRF in the front-rear direction was measured at the same time as the temporal parameters, and a significant difference was observed between the 1st step and the 2nd step [26]. Therefore, it is considered that the forward propulsive force required for gait has an influence, and the number of steps required for the temporal parameters to reach a steady-state differs between the gait and stepping motion. ...
... The IMU data were processed with MATLAB (MathWorks, Nantick, MA, USA) using a validated step detection algorithm [21]. In addition to the 4 and 20 m walking task, we analyzed only the steady state walking phase from the 20 m task by removing the first three and last three steps [22]. ...
Evaluating gait is part of every neurological movement disorder assessment. Generally, the physician assesses the patient based on their experience, but nowadays inertial measurement units (IMUs) are also often integrated in the assessment. Instrumented gait analysis has a longstanding tradition and temporal parameters are used to compare patient groups or trace disease progression over time. However, the day-to-day variability needs to be considered especially in specific patient cohorts. The aim of the study was to examine day-to-day variability of temporal gait parameters of two experimental conditions in a cohort of neurogeriatric patients using data extracted from a lower back-worn IMU. We recruited 49 participants (24 women (age: 78 years ± 6 years, BMI = 25.1 kg/m2 and 25 men (age: 77 years ± 6 years, BMI = 26.5 kg/m2)) from the neurogeriatric ward. Two gait distances (4 m and 20 m) were performed during the first session and repeated the following day. To evaluate reliability, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,k) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated for the number of steps, step time, stride time, stance time, swing time, double limb support time, double limb support time variability, stride time variability and stride time asymmetry. The temporal gait parameters showed poor to moderate reliability with mean ICC and mean MDC95% values of 0.57 ± 0.18 and 52% ± 53%, respectively. Overall, only four out of the nine computed temporal gait parameters showed high relative reliability and good absolute reliability values. The reliability increased with walking distance. When only investigating steady-state walking during the 20 m walking condition, the relative and absolute reliability improved again. The most reliable parameters were swing time, stride time, step time and stance time. Study results demonstrate that reliability is an important factor to consider when working with IMU derived gait parameters in specific patient cohorts. This advocates for a careful parameter selection as not all parameters seem to be suitable when assessing gait in neurogeriatric patients.
... A ramp construction on the other side bears the advantage of a stable walkway, which requires the participants to actively generate the forward locomotion and hence increases task validity. Methodologically, a large lab space is required for a ramp construction with a walkway that enables participants to reach steady speed gait [7]. Additionally, the alternation of uphill and downhill walks have to be conducted if using a ramp, while on a treadmill continuous up-or downill walking is possible. ...
... Additionally, the alternation of uphill and downhill walks have to be conducted if using a ramp, while on a treadmill continuous up-or downill walking is possible. It also has to be noted that very lab-specific individual ramp solutions in terms of walkway length [3], width, gradient and surfaces exist [7]. ...
... The laboratory set-up consisted of a treadmill area (treadmill: Pulsar, HP Cosmos, Germany, beltsize: 1.90m × 0.65m) and a ramp area (ramp, self-construction: 6m × 1.4m, Fig. 1) (e.g. [7,20,21]). Each slope-system was surrounded by a 3D motion capture system. ...
Background
Inclined treadmills or static ramp constructions can be used to investigate downhill gait in a standardised laboratory condition. There is a lack of information how the gait patterns are affected when walking on a ramp or an inclined treadmill during uphill and downhill walking.
Research question
Is there a difference in temporo-spatial parameters, sagittal ankle, knee and hip joint angle as well as ground reaction force when walking uphill and downhill on a ramp and a treadmill.
Methods
Uphill and downhill gait of 15 healthy participants was assessed during walking on a treadmill and on a ramp with slope gradients of 12 °, 6 ° and 0 °. Participants were instructed to walk with the same speed on each slope-system. Kinematic and temporo-spatial paramters were collected using a 3D motion capture system (Qualisys, Gothenburgh, Sweden), kinetic data were collected using pressure insoles (loadsol®, Novel, Germany). Temporo-spatial parameters were analysed using a Friedman ANOVA, time series of kinematic and kinetic data were compared using statistical parametric mapping with a sigificance level of 5%.
Results
On the treadmill participants walked with significantly shorter steps and shorter contact times, while they significantly increased step frequency compared to walking on a ramp, regardless of slope gradient. In uphill conditions, treadmill gait increased hip and knee flexion angles during the stance phase and increased the forward tilt of the thorax during the entire gait cycle. During downhill walking a significant decrease in dorsiflexion during initial contact, midstance and the second half of the swing phase was observed. Peak resultant forces remained similar compared to walking on the ramp. These alterations might be due to mechanical and psychological effects.
Significance
Knowledge about these differences is important in future study design and data interpretation from existing literature.
... A ramp construction on the other side bears the advantage of a stable walkway, which requires the participants to actively generate the forward locomotion and hence increases task validity. Methodologically, a large lab space is required for a ramp construction with a walkway that enables participants to reach steady speed gait [7]. Additionally, the alternation of uphill and downhill walks have to be conducted if using a ramp, while on a treadmill continuous up-or downill walking is possible. ...
... Additionally, the alternation of uphill and downhill walks have to be conducted if using a ramp, while on a treadmill continuous up-or downill walking is possible. It also has to be noted that very lab-specific individual ramp solutions in terms of walkway length [3], width, gradient and surfaces exist [7]. ...
... The laboratory set-up consisted of a treadmill area (treadmill: Pulsar, HP Cosmos, Germany, beltsize: 1.90m × 0.65m) and a ramp area (ramp, self-construction: 6m × 1.4m, Fig. 1) (e.g. [7,20,21]). Each slope-system was surrounded by a 3D motion capture system. ...
Background
Larger ankle dorsiflexion (DF) is required when walking on inclined surfaces. Individuals with limited DF range of motion (ROM) may experience greater tissue stress on sloped surfaces and walk in altered gait patterns compared to the those with normal DF ROM.
Research question
Would the individuals with limited DF ROM walk with distinctive ankle DF patterns compared to those with normal DF ROM on the inclined surfaces?
Methods
Ten Limited DF ROM (passive ROM=35.3±2.7°) and nine Normal DF ROM (passive ROM=46.4±4.2°) participants walked on a treadmill at five slope angles (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°) for 2 minutes at a self-selected speed. The peak DF angles and the peak myoelectric activity levels of the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscles were quantified during the swing and stance phases of each walking trial, and they were compared between the two groups.
Results
Participants with limited DF ROM walked with smaller peak DF (3.1° at 0° slope ~ 8.4° at 20° slope) and greater peak TA activity in swing than those of the Normal ROM participants (3.4° ~ 12.2°), with significant differences at 20° slope. The peak DF angle in stance (Limited: 9.6° ~ 19.0°; Normal: 10.1° ~ 21.0°) did not differ between the two groups at all slopes, but the peak activity of the SOL muscle was significantly greater for the Limited group at slopes of 10° and higher.
Significance
Study results indicate that incline walking could be more challenging to the individuals with limited DF ROM as they need to approach and push-off the sloped surfaces with more efforts of the dorsiflexor and the plantar flexor muscles, respectively. Prolonged walking on inclined surfaces may produce faster development of muscle fatigue or tissue damage than those with normal DF ROM.
Objective:
Frailty has a high prevalence in elders and impairs motor ability. This study aimed to investigate the influence caused by frailty in kinematic characteristics of walking and walking strategy adjustment from static standing to stable walking.
Methods:
In this study, 80 community-dwelling elders performed tests. The Kihon checklist (KCL) was used to assess frailty. The timed up and go test (TUGT) and the 30-s chair stand test (30-s CST) were used to assess balance and muscle strength. The Xsens MVN BIOMECH Awinda was used to collect walking kinematic data.
Results:
This study included 25 robust, 30 prefrail, and 25 frail elders. The TUGT completed time (P < 0.001) and the 30-s CST completed number (P = 0.002) had statistical differences among groups. The maximum peak of knee internal rotation showed an interaction between the frailty and the walking phase (P = 0.015). The peak angle of hip adduction, hip and knee flexion, and knee and ankle internal rotation were significantly lower in frail elders than others (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Frailty affects the kinematic characteristics of walking, resulting in the hip, knee, and ankle flexion, hip adduction, knee and ankle internal rotation reduced. Besides, frailty has a specific negative effect on the walking strategy adjustment from static standing to stable walking.
