The effect of external lateral stabilization on the use of foot placement to control mediolateral stability in walking and running

Abstract

It is still unclear how humans control mediolateral (ML) stability in walking and even more so for running. Here, foot placement strategy as a main mechanism to control ML stability was compared between walking and running. Moreover, to verify the role of foot placement as a means to control ML stability in both modes of locomotion, this study investigated the effect of external lateral stabilization on foot placement control. Ten young adults participated in this study. Kinematic data of the trunk (T6) and feet were recorded during walking and running on a treadmill in normal and stabilized conditions. Correlation between ML trunk CoM state and subsequent ML foot placement, step width, and step width variability were assessed. Paired t-tests (either SPM1d or normal) were used to compare aforementioned parameters between normal walking and running. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (either SPM1d or normal) were used to test for effects of walking vs. running and of normal vs. stabilized condition. We found a stronger correlation between ML trunk CoM state and ML foot placement and significantly higher step width variability in walking than in running. The correlation between ML trunk CoM state and ML foot placement, step width, and step width variability were significantly decreased by external lateral stabilization in walking and running, and this reduction was stronger in walking than in running. We conclude that ML foot placement is coordinated to ML trunk CoM state to stabilize both walking and running and this coordination is stronger in walking than in running.

Active foot placement control ensures stable gait: Effect of constraints on foot placement and ankle moments

“…However, we found that the control strategy can be relaxed, achieving less tight foot placement control when constraining foot placement at a slow walking speed, whereas at a normal walking speed the degree of foot placement control was upheld. Overall, we can underscore the growing body of literature [3, 7, 8,12,15,16,26] and confirm that the foot placement model as introduced by Wang and Srinivasan [4] reflects an active control strategy, related to mediolateral stability [5].…”

“…CoM position and velocity) during the preceding swing phase. The association between foot placement and CoM kinematic state was shown to be less pronounced during walking with external lateral stabilization [ 5 ], which supports the notion that step-by-step foot placement control promotes mediolateral gait stability.…”

Stabilization demands of walking modulate the vestibular contributions to gait

“…When participants walked with external stabilization, the stability of the gait pattern increased while vestibular-evoked muscle and force responses decreased as compared to normal walking. Both of these results are not entirely surprising since the control of mediolateral motion is aided by the forces generated by the springs 16,17,22 . As a result, there is a reduced reliance on vestibular signals to maintain upright locomotion during stabilized walking.…”

Gait Asymmetry Post-Stroke: Determining Valid and Reliable Methods Using a Single Accelerometer Located on the Trunk

“…Similar to the other variables capable of quantifying movements in the AP and ML direction, there is the possibility that they can highlight a new domain of asymmetry separate from the asymmetry footfall asymmetry variables captured by GaitRite. Future research should explore this upper and lower body relationship post-stroke to examine the similarities and differences during gait and determine if added value is obtained [36,37].…”