Inter-segment foot kinematics during cross-slope running (original) (raw)
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Kinematics of Hip, Knee and Ankle During Cross- Slope Walking
Purpose: Little information is available on joint kinematic adaptations during walking on crossslope surfaces (i.e. a surface incline perpendicular to the direction of locomotion). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cross-slope surfaces on three-dimensional (3D) kinematics of hip, knee, and ankle joints during stance phase of walking. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. Ten healthy adult male students were selected through available sampling method and walked along an inclinable walkway in both level (0°) and cross-slope (10°) configurations. The 3D angles of hip, knee, and ankle along with their time of occurrence (the time reaching to the maximum values for each specific joint angle) were analyzed using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) by SPSS 17. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Knee and ankle joints had the most kinematic adaptations on cross-slope conditions in the sagittal plane, while in the transverse plane angles of hip and knee joints were mainly altered (P<0.05). These adaptations are necessary to adjust the functional leg-length during different stance phases to both maintain a subtle gait pattern and medio-lateral balance. Though significant differences in timing of the joints kinematic events between level and cross-slope walking were observed (P<0.05), their temporal aspects of the kinematic adaptations were more consistent than their magnitude. Conclusion: The information obtained from this study enriches our understanding about the kinematic adaptations of the lower extremity joints in stance phase during level and cross-slope walking.
Ground reaction force adaptations during cross-slope walking and running
Though transversely inclined (cross-sloped) surfaces are prevalent, our understanding of the biomechanical adaptations required for cross-slope locomotion is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine ground reaction forces (GRF) in cross-sloped and level walking and running. Nine young adult males walked and ran barefoot along an inclinable walkway in both level (0°) and cross-slope (10°) configurations. The magnitude and time of occurrence of selected features of the GRF were extracted from the force plate data. GRF data were collected in level walking and running (LW and LR), inclined walking and running up-slope (IWU and IRU), and down-slope (IWD and IRD), respectively. The GRF data were then analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA. In the anteroposterior direction, the timing of the peak force values differed across conditions during walking (p = .041), while the magnitude of forces were modified across conditions for running (p = .047). Most significant differences were observed in the mediolateral direction, where generally force values were up to 390% and 530% (p < .001) larger during the cross-slope conditions compared to level for walking and running, respectively. The maximum force peak during running occurred earlier at IRU compared to the other conditions (p 6 .031). For the normal axis a significant difference was observed in the first maximum force peak during walking (p = .049). The findings of this study showed that compared to level surfaces, functional adaptations are required to maintain forward progression and dynamic stability in stance during cross-slope walking and running.
Korean Journal of Sport Biomechanics, 2016
The purpose of this study was to determine the knee and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics by comparing downhill walking with valley-shape combined slope walking. Method: Eighteen healthy men participated in this study. A three-dimensional motion capture system equipped with eight infrared cameras and a synchronized force plate, which was embedded in the sloped walkway, was used. Obtained kinematic and kinetic parameters were compared using paired two-tailed Student's t-tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The knee flexion angle after the mid-stance phase, the mean peak knee flexion angle in the early swing phase, and the ankle mean peak dorsiflexion angle were greater during downhill walking compared with valley-shape combined slope walking (p < 0.001). Both the mean peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) in the early stance phase and late stance phase during downhill walking were smaller than those values during valley-shape combined slope walking. (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, respectively). The mean peak anterior GRF, appearing right after toe-off during downhill walking, was also smaller than that of valleyshape combined slope walking (p = 0.002). The mean peak knee extension moment and ankle plantar flexion moment in late stance phase during downhill walking were significantly smaller than those of valleyshape combined slope walking (p = 0.002 and p = 0.015, respectively). Conclusion: These results suggest that gait strategy was modified during valley-shape combined slope walking when compared with continuous downhill walking in order to gain the propulsion for lifting the body up the incline for foot clearance.
Measurement of lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during valley-shaped slope walking
International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 2015
Military personnel suffer from musculoskeletal injuries during military operations and training. Military training is often performed with military boots in challenging outdoor environments where the ground surface is not leveled. Thus, this study aimed to determine the hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during valley-shaped slope walking (VSW). Eighteen Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets walked on a valley-shaped slope wearing military boots. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data of the lower extremity were obtained using a force plate and motion capture system. Kinematics changed to control the lowered and raised body during VSW. Anterior-posterior ground reaction forces (GRF) and vertical GRF were significantly increased during VSW compared with that during level walking. Furthermore, compared with level walking, both the knee extension moment and ankle plantarflexion moment were significantly increased during VSW. Joint kinematics and kinetics changed in response to the shape of the ground surface. During VSW, the changes in the pattern and magnitude of the joint kinematics and kinetics demonstrated that different movement strategies are required to provide soldiers the necessary stability and mobility.
Locomotor adaptations for changes in the slope of the walking surface
Gait & Posture, 2004
The goal of this study was to examine the transition of walking from a level surface onto different inclined surfaces. Kinematic data of limb and trunk segments were recorded from individuals as they approached and stepped onto four different ramped surfaces (slopes = 3 • , 6 • , 9 • , 12 •). This transition introduced significant adaptations to the swing limb trajectory that were evident in even the lowest ramp condition and appear to be scaled to the ramp inclination although the nature of this scaling seemed to change between the 6 • and 9 • conditions. An increased forward pitch of the trunk orientation during all ramp conditions was initiated early on during the preceding stance phase on level ground. The swing limb modification essentially consisted of a two-stage response. The initial response of the limb trajectory changes was not specific to the degree of inclination but later changes were dependent on the ramp condition. The initial response is to ensure a safe toe clearance as the foot approaches the edge of the ramp and then later modifications provide the appropriate positioning of the limb to prepare for an elevated foot contact. Early changes were actively produced through an increased pull-off by the hip flexors and an elevation of the swing limb by the active muscle control of the stance limb. Ankle dorsiflexion also appears to have a supporting role increasing toe clearance. Absorption at the hip and knee during later swing contribute to control and position the limb in preparation for foot contact. These strategies were similar to those adopted for step changes in the level of the walking surface where there are similar demands of the quickly moving the limb forward and upward, however, the positioning of the limb for new angled landing surface requires further adaptations.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2018
Knowing the ground reaction forces (GRFs) during walking has various biomechanical applications in injury prevention, gait analysis, as well as prosthetic and footwear design. The current study presents a method for predicting the GRFs in level and incline/decline walking that may be used in various outdoor biomechanics studies geared towards the above applications. The method was developed to predict the complete set of GRFs at walking inclinations of 0°, ±5°, ±10°, ±15°, and ±20°. Plantar pressure insoles were used to obtain inclination-specific, linear regression models based on three periods of gait stance phase, and the model-determined GRFs were compared with those measured from a forceplate. The three periods were determined based on the observed shifting of load-bearing insole sensors from heel to forefoot during walking, i.e., heel-strike, midstance, and toe-off. Six subjects wearing minimalist shoes fitted with plantar pressure insoles containing 99 pressure sensors performed ten walking trials at each of the aforementioned inclinations on an adjustable ramp with an embedded forceplate. Data from contact of the instrumented shoes with the forceplate were used to create linear regressions to transform insole pressure data into a complete set of GRFs. The root mean square error (RMSE) over peak recorded values were on average 10%, 3%, 21% for level walking and 11%, 4%, 23% for ramp walking in the respective anteroposterior, vertical, and mediolateral directions. The multistage linear regression model developed in the current study may be an acceptable option for estimating GRFs during walking in various environments without the restraint of a forceplate.
Footstep analysis at different slopes and speeds in elite race walking
Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 2013
Padulo, J, Annino, G, D'Ottavio, S, Vernillo, G, Smith, L, Migliaccio, GM, and Tihanyi, J. Footstep analysis at different slopes and speeds in elite race walking. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2012-To investigate the effects of speed and slope on kinematic parameters, we studied the step parameters of 12 elite race walkers on a treadmill at different speeds (3.61, 3.89, and 4.17 mÁs 21 ) and slopes (0, 2, and 7%). A high-speed digital camera (210 Hz) was used to record motion, and 2D data were analyzed with Dartfish 5.5Pro. The parameters studied were step length (SL), step frequency (SF), and contact time (CT). The results showed that the increases in SL were linearly related to increases in speed: r = 0.37 with p , 0.01, whereas decreases in SL were elicited with an increase in slope r = -0.56, p , 0.0001 ([0-2% = -3.5%, p , 0.02], [0-7% = -7.5%, p , 0.01]). The SF was positively correlated with increases in speed, r = 0.56, p = 0.0001, and slopes, r = 0.50, p , 0.0001 (0-2% = 3.6% n.s.; 0-7% = 8.5%, p , 0.01). Conversely, CT was negatively correlated with increases of both speed; r = -0.57, p , 0.0001 and slope r = -0.50, p , 0.0001 (0-2% = -3.4%, n.s.; 0-7% = -7.7%, p , 0.01). These results suggest that using slopes ,7% could considerably alter the neuromechanical behavior of athletes, whereas slopes around 2% could positively influence the performance of the elite race walkers without altering the race-walking technique.
Effect of slope and footwear on running economy and kinematics
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2013
Lower energy cost of running (Cr) has been reported when wearing minimal (MS) vs traditional shoes (TS) on level terrain, but the effect of slope on this difference is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare Cr, physiological, and kinematic variables from running in MS and TS on different slope conditions. Fourteen men (23.4 Ϯ 4.4 years; 177.5 Ϯ 5.2 cm; 69.5 Ϯ 5.3 kg) ran 14 5-min trials in a randomized sequence at 10 km/h on a treadmill. Subjects ran once wearing MS and once wearing TS on seven slopes, from-8% to +8%. We found that Cr increased with slope gradient (P < 0.01) and was on average 1.3% lower in MS than TS (P < 0.01). However, slope did not influence the Cr difference between MS and TS. In MS, contact times were lower (P < 0.01), flight times (P = 0.01) and step frequencies (P = 0.02) were greater at most slope gradients, and plantar-foot angles-and often ankle plantar-flexion (P = 0.01)-were greater (P < 0.01). The 1.3% difference between footwear identified here most likely stemmed from the difference in shoe mass considering that the Cr difference was independent of slope gradient and that the between-footwear kinematic alterations with slope provided limited explanations.