Location

UNLV Moyer Student Union 208

Start Date

16-4-2013 12:30 PM

End Date

16-4-2013 12:30 PM

Description

PURPOSE: To investigate the kinematic effect on the systems’ center of mass horizontal velocity in response to stride length perturbations. METHODS: Twelve healthy adults (23.1±7.71 yrs; 1.69±0.1 m; 66.82±12.6 kg; leg length 894.7±66.1 mm) performed 5 trials of preferred speed walking (PW) and running (PR)followed by 5 stride length perturbations based on percentages of leg length (60%, 80%, 100%, 120% and 140%). 3D kinematic analysis was completed using a 12-camera infrared motion capture system (Vicon, 200hz). Dependent variables computer for each condition included: center of mass horizontal velocity at the highest vertical position (COMHVhi) and at the lowest vertical position (COMHVlo). Statistical analysis included correlation matrices across levels of perturbation for each dependent variable (α=.05). RESULTS: COMHVhi demonstrated significant correlations with greater than 50% shared variance for PR vs 100% (r=.742), 60% vs 80% (r=.824), 60% vs 100% (r=.748), 60% vs 120% (r=.709), 80% vs 100% (r=.896), 100% vs 120% (r=.887), and 100% vs 140% (r=.728), and 120% vs 140% (r=.895). COMHVlo demonstrated significant correlations with greater than 50% shared variance for PR vs 100% (r=.753), PW vs 80% (r=.794), 60% vs 80% (r=.814), 60% vs 100% (r=.735), 60% vs 120% (r=.748), 80% vs 100% (r=.902), 80% vs 120% (r=.751), 100% vs 120% (r=.892), and 120% vs 140% (r=.710). DISCUSSION: Results suggest PR and PW have a greater relationship to stride length less than or equal to leg length, and thus extending stride length begins to diminish mechanical efficiency. It is a well-established mechanical relationship that horizontal velocity is a product of stride length and stride rate. Study results suggest that increases in stride length beyond 100% of leg length may be less than optimal mechanically. CONCLUSION: Stride lengths greater than 100% leg length during walking may be inefficient, perhaps owing to changes in lower extremity stiffness.

Keywords

Biomechanics; Gait in humans; Human locomotion; Walking

Disciplines

Biomechanics | Kinesiology

Language

English

Comments

File: Poster


Included in

Biomechanics Commons

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Apr 16th, 12:30 PM Apr 16th, 12:30 PM

Kinematic Effects of Stride Length Perturbations on System COM Horizontal Velocity During Locomotion

UNLV Moyer Student Union 208

PURPOSE: To investigate the kinematic effect on the systems’ center of mass horizontal velocity in response to stride length perturbations. METHODS: Twelve healthy adults (23.1±7.71 yrs; 1.69±0.1 m; 66.82±12.6 kg; leg length 894.7±66.1 mm) performed 5 trials of preferred speed walking (PW) and running (PR)followed by 5 stride length perturbations based on percentages of leg length (60%, 80%, 100%, 120% and 140%). 3D kinematic analysis was completed using a 12-camera infrared motion capture system (Vicon, 200hz). Dependent variables computer for each condition included: center of mass horizontal velocity at the highest vertical position (COMHVhi) and at the lowest vertical position (COMHVlo). Statistical analysis included correlation matrices across levels of perturbation for each dependent variable (α=.05). RESULTS: COMHVhi demonstrated significant correlations with greater than 50% shared variance for PR vs 100% (r=.742), 60% vs 80% (r=.824), 60% vs 100% (r=.748), 60% vs 120% (r=.709), 80% vs 100% (r=.896), 100% vs 120% (r=.887), and 100% vs 140% (r=.728), and 120% vs 140% (r=.895). COMHVlo demonstrated significant correlations with greater than 50% shared variance for PR vs 100% (r=.753), PW vs 80% (r=.794), 60% vs 80% (r=.814), 60% vs 100% (r=.735), 60% vs 120% (r=.748), 80% vs 100% (r=.902), 80% vs 120% (r=.751), 100% vs 120% (r=.892), and 120% vs 140% (r=.710). DISCUSSION: Results suggest PR and PW have a greater relationship to stride length less than or equal to leg length, and thus extending stride length begins to diminish mechanical efficiency. It is a well-established mechanical relationship that horizontal velocity is a product of stride length and stride rate. Study results suggest that increases in stride length beyond 100% of leg length may be less than optimal mechanically. CONCLUSION: Stride lengths greater than 100% leg length during walking may be inefficient, perhaps owing to changes in lower extremity stiffness.