Design and Validation of an Instrumented Uneven Terrain Treadmill

Voloshina, Alexandra S.; Ferris, Daniel P.

doi:10.1123/jab.2016-0322

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…We constructed an uneven terrain treadmill, similar to [18], that allowed for continuous walking in the laboratory environment. Several candidate terrain profiles were simulated to determine the distribution of disturbances in frontal and sagittal planes.…”

Section: Uneven Terrain Treadmillmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of ground-irregularity-cancelling prosthesis control on balance over uneven surfaces

2021

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Over half of individuals with a lower-limb amputation are unable to walk on uneven terrain. Using a prosthesis emulator system, we developed an irregularity-cancelling controller intended to reduce the effect of disturbances resulting from uneven surfaces. This controller functions by changing the neutral angles of two forefoot digits in response to local terrain heights. To isolate the effects of the controller, we also programmed a spring-like controller that maintained fixed neutral angles. Five participants with transtibial amputation walked on a treadmill with an uneven walking surface. Compared with the spring-like controller, the irregularity-cancelling controller reduced ankle torque variability by 41% in the sagittal plane and 64% in the frontal plane. However, user outcomes associated with balance were mostly unaffected; only trunk movement variability was reduced, whereas metabolic rate, mediolateral centre of mass motion, and variabilities in step width, step length and step time were unchanged. We conclude that reducing ankle torque variability of the affected limb is not sufficient for reducing the overall effect of disturbances due to uneven terrain. It is possible that other factors, such as changes in step height or disturbances to the intact limb, play a larger role in difficulty balancing while walking over uneven surfaces.

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Section: Uneven Terrain Treadmillmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of ground-irregularity-cancelling prosthesis control on balance over uneven surfaces

2021

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“…Some studies have used modified treadmills to create uneven surfaces [19–23]. However, previous studies examined only one uneven surface and compared it with normal treadmill walking rather than parametrically varying the terrain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This contrasts with dual-task paradigms, which distract participants cognitively, and with discrete physical perturbations, which challenge participants intermittently. Some studies have used modified treadmills to create uneven surfaces [19][20][21][22][23]. However, previous studies examined only one uneven surface and compared it with normal treadmill walking rather than parametrically varying the terrain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uneven terrain treadmill walking in younger and older adults

Downey

Richer

Gupta

et al. 2022

Preprint

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We developed a method for altering terrain unevenness on a treadmill to study gait kinematics. We attached rigid polyurethane disks (12.7 cm diameter, 1.3-3.8 cm tall) to the treadmill belt using hook-and-loop fasteners. We tested four terrain conditions: Flat, Low, Medium, and High. The main objective was to test the hypothesis that increasing the unevenness of the terrain would result in greater gait kinematic variability. We tested 17 younger adults (age 20-40 years), 25 higher-functioning older adults (age 65+ years), and 29 lower-functioning older adults (age 65+ years, Short Physical Performance Battery score < 10). We customized the treadmill speed to each participant’s walking ability, keeping the speed constant across all four terrain conditions. Participants completed two 3-minute walking trials per condition. Using an inertial measurement unit placed over the sacrum and pressure sensors in the shoes, we calculated the stride-to-stride variability in step duration and sacral excursion (coefficient of variation; standard deviation expressed as percentage of the mean). Participants also self-reported their perceived stability for each condition. Terrain was a significant predictor of step duration variability, which roughly doubled from Flat terrain to High terrain for all participant groups: younger adults (Flat 4.0%, High 8.2%), higher-functioning older adults (Flat 5.0%, High 8.9%), lower-functioning older adults (Flat 7.0%, High 14.1%). Similarly, all groups exhibited significant increases in sacral excursion variability for all three uneven terrain conditions compared to Flat. Participants were also significantly more likely to report feeling less stable walking over uneven terrain. These findings support the hypothesis that altering terrain unevenness on a treadmill will increase gait kinematic variability and reduce perceived stability in younger and older adults.

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“…There is vast knowledge regarding the influence of experimental setups, such as laboratory setups or natural environment tests, on clinical gait analysis, and the impact of different surfaces, such as instrumented treadmill or traditional laboratory walkways, on gait patterns (6)(7)(8). Compared to overground walking, the treadmill walking speed is slower and step length is reduced; furthermore, in treadmill walking, the stance and double-support phases increase while the swing duration decreases, demonstrating a "safety-related" gait adaption (9,10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Treadmill Design on Gait: Does Treadmill Size Affect Muscle Activation Amplitude? A Musculoskeletal Calculation With Individualized Input Parameters of Gait Analysis

Woiczinski¹,

Lehner

Esser³

et al. 2022

Front. Neurol.

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With increasing age, gait changes often occur, leading to mobility problems and thus a higher risk of falling. Interest in training at home or at retirement homes has led to the development of “mobile treadmills.” A difference in treadmill surface length may influence walking parameters (i.e., step length) and therefore may affect muscle activation. This led to the question: Does the treadmill size affect the muscle activation, i.e., with the length of the walking surface. The study aimed to investigate the influence of treadmill size, i.e., length of the walking surface, on gait pattern and to determine differences in the amplitude of muscle activation using a participant-specific musculoskeletal model (AnyBody Technology A/S, Aalborg, Denmark). For a prospective, randomized study gait parameters were collected from 47 healthy participants (aged 50.19 ± 20.58 years) while walking on two different treadmills, a small mobile treadmill (walking surface length 100 cm) and a conventional treadmill (walking surface length 150 cm), at their preferred speed, 2 km/h, and 4 km/h. Muscle activation amplitude patterns were similar between treadmills (M. gastrocnemius medialis: rmean = 0.94, M. gastrocnemius lateralis: rmean = 0.92, M. gluteus medius rmean = 0.90, M. gluteus minimus rmean = 0.94). However, the gait analysis showed a decreased preferred velocity (p < 0.001, z = 4.54), reduced stride length (preferred velocity: p = 0.03, z = −2.17; 2 km/h: p = 0.36, z = 2.10; 4 km/h: p = 0.006, z = 2.76), shorter stride time (2 km/h: p < 0.001, z = 4.65; 4 km/h: p < 0.001, z = 4.15), and higher cadence (2 km/h: p < 0.001, z = −4.20; 4 km/h: p = 0.029, z = −2.18) on the mobile treadmill than on the conventional treadmill. Our observations suggest that the treadmill design (e.g., a 50 cm difference in walking surface length) may not influence muscle activity amplitude during walking. However, the design of the treadmill may influence gait characteristics (e.g., stride length, cadence) of walking.

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Design and Validation of an Instrumented Uneven Terrain Treadmill

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

The effects of ground-irregularity-cancelling prosthesis control on balance over uneven surfaces

The effects of ground-irregularity-cancelling prosthesis control on balance over uneven surfaces

Uneven terrain treadmill walking in younger and older adults

Influence of Treadmill Design on Gait: Does Treadmill Size Affect Muscle Activation Amplitude? A Musculoskeletal Calculation With Individualized Input Parameters of Gait Analysis

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