Journal article
Kinematic strategies for walking across a destabilizing rock surface
Gait & posture, Vol.35(1), pp.36-42
01/2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.08.001
PMCID: PMC3262902
PMID: 21890361
Abstract
It is important to understand how people adapt their gait when walking in real-world conditions with variable surface characteristics. This study quantified lower-extremity joint kinematics, estimated whole body center of mass height (COMVT), and minimum toe clearance (MTC) while 15 healthy, young subjects walked on level ground (LG) and a destabilizing loose rock surface (RS) at four controlled speeds. There were no significant differences in average step parameters (length, time, or width) between the walking surfaces. However, the variability of these parameters increased twofold on the RS compared to LG. When walking on the RS, subjects contacted the surface with a flatter foot and increased knee and hip flexion, which enabled them to lower COMVT. Subjects exhibited increased hip and knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion during swing on the RS. These changes contributed to a 3.8 times greater MTC on the RS compared to LG. Peak hip and knee flexion during early stance and swing increased with walking speed, contributing to decreased COMVT and increased MTC. Overall, subjects systematically adapted their movement kinematics to overcome the challenge imposed by the destabilizing loose rock surface.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Kinematic strategies for walking across a destabilizing rock surface
- Creators
- Deanna H Gates - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Center for the Intrepid, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USAJason M Wilken - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Center for the Intrepid, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USAShawn J Scott - Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Fort Jackson, SC 29207, USAEmily H Sinitski - Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Center for the Intrepid, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USAJonathan B Dingwell - Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Gait & posture, Vol.35(1), pp.36-42
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.08.001
- PMID
- 21890361
- PMCID
- PMC3262902
- NLM abbreviation
- Gait Posture
- ISSN
- 0966-6362
- eISSN
- 1879-2219
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- name: Military Amputee Research Program; name: US Army Medical Specialty Corps Long-Term Health Education Training Fellowship; name: NIH, award: 1-R01-HD059844-01A1
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2012
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984047687702771
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