BackgroundAnteriorly-loaded walking is common in many occupations and may increase fall risk. Dynamic gait stability, defined by the Feasible Stability Region (FSR) theory, quantifies the kinematic relationship between the body’s center of mass (COM) and base of support (BOS). FSR-based dynamic gait stability has been used to evaluate the fall risk.Research questionHow does front load carriage affect dynamic gait stability, step length, and trunk angle among young adults during treadmill walking?MethodsIn this between-subject design study, 30 healthy young adults were evenly randomized into three load groups (0%, 10%, or 20% of body weight). Participants carried their assigned load while walking on a treadmill at a speed of 1.2 m/s. Body kinematics were collected during treadmill walking. Dynamic gait stability (the primary variable) was calculated for two gait events: touchdown and liftoff. Step length and trunk angle were measured as secondary variables. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to detect any group-related differences for all variables. Post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction was performed when main group differences were found.ResultsNo significant differences but medium to large effect sizes were found between groups for dynamic gait stability at touchdown (p = 0.194, η2 = 0.114) and liftoff (p = 0.122, η2 = 0.139). Trunk angle significantly increased (indicating backward lean) with the front load at touchdown (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.648) and liftoff (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.543). No significant between-group difference was found related to the step length (p = 0.344, η2 = 0.076).SignificanceCarrying a front load during walking significantly alters the trunk orientation and may change the COM-BOS kinematic relationship and, therefore, fall risk. The findings could inform the design of future studies focusing on the impact of anterior load carriage on fall risk during different locomotion. 相似文献
Background: While over half of stroke survivors recover the ability to walk without assistance, deficits persist in the performance of walking adaptations necessary for safe home and community mobility. One such adaptation is the ability to walk or step backward. Post-stroke rehabilitation rarely includes backward walking (BW) assessment and BW deficits have not been quantified in post-stroke community ambulators.
Objective: To quantify spatiotemporal and kinematic BW characteristics in post-stroke community ambulators and compare their performance to controls.
Methods: Individuals post-stroke (n = 15, 60.1 ± 12.9 years, forward speed: 1.13 ± 0.23 m/s) and healthy adults (n = 12, 61.2 ± 16.2 years, forward speed: 1.40 ± 0.13 m/s) performed forward walking (FW) and BW during a single session. Step characteristics and peak lower extremity joint angles were extracted using 3D motion analysis and analyzed with mixed-method ANOVAs (group, walking condition).
Results: The stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in speed, step length and cadence and a greater increase in double-support time during BW compared to FW (p < .01). Compared to FW, the post-stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in hip extension and knee flexion during BW (p < .05). The control group demonstrated decreased plantarflexion and increased dorsiflexion during BW, but these increases were attenuated in the post-stroke group (p < .05).
Conclusions: Assessment of BW can unmask post-stroke walking impairments not detected during typical FW. BW impairments may contribute to the mobility difficulties reported by adults post-stroke. Therefore, BW should be assessed when determining readiness for home and community ambulation. 相似文献
In this paper, four pairs of insoles with different comfort characteristics were used to investigate the relationship between the pressure distribution under the foot and running shoe comfort. Fourteen male subjects were tested in four insole conditions by walking and running on a treadmill. The pressure at the plantar surface of the foot was measured by using an EMED pressure-measuring insole. For walking there were significantly higher pressures and forces in the midfoot area and significantly lower pressures in the medial forefoot and hallux area by wearing the most comfortable insole compared with wearing the least comfortable insole. The shift of the pressure from forefoot to midfoot for the most comfortable insole provided an even distribution of the pressure at the plantar surface of the foot. The results also demonstrated that the path of centre of force at the plantar surface of the foot moved to the lateral aspect of the foot for the most comfortable insole. For running, only the pressure in the medial forefoot area was found significantly lower for the most comfortable insole than for the least comfortable insole. The results of this study indicated that the pressure distribution between the plantar surface of the foot and the shoe could detect the change of shoe comfort. Thus it is a suggestion that pressure measurement may be related to understand factors important for shoe comfort.
Comfort of sport shoes is important for the appropriate execution of sport activities. Additionally, comfort may influence fatigue and possibly the development of injuries. The quantification of comfort of sport shoes and the understanding of mechanical and/or biological functions related to it may be enhanced with the use of pressure measurements between the plantar surface of the foot and the shoe sole. 相似文献
The common denominator in the assessment of human balance and posture is the inverted pendulum model. If we focus on appropriate versions of the model we can use it to identify the gravitational and acceleration perturbations and pinpoint the motor mechanisms that can defend against any perturbation.
We saw that in quiet standing an ankle strategy applies only in the A/P direction and that a separate hip load/unload strategy by the hip abd/adductors is the totally dominant defence in the M/L direction when standing with feet side by side. In other standing positions (tandem, or intermediate) the two mechanisms still work separately, but their roles reverse. In the tandem position M/L balance is an ankle mechanism (invertors/evertors) while in the A/P direction a hip load/unloading mechanism dominates.
During initiation and termination of gait these two separate mechanisms control the trajectory of the COP to ensure the desired acceleration and deceleration of the COM. During initiation the initial acceleration of the COM forward towards the stance limb is achieved by a posterior and lateral movement of the COP towards the swing limb. After this release phase there is a sudden loading of the stance limb which shifts the COP to the stance limb. The COM is now accelerated forward and laterally towards the future position of the swinging foot. Also M/L shifts of the COP were controlled by the hip abductors/adductors and all A/P shifts were under the control of the ankle plantar/dorsiflexors. During termination the trajectory of both COM and COP reverse. As the final weight-bearing on the stance foot takes place the COM is passing forward along the medial border of that foot. Hyperactivity of that foot's plantarflexors takes the COP forward and when the final foot begins to bear weight the COP moves rapidly across and suddenly stops at a position ahead of the future position of the COM. Then the plantarflexors of both feet release and allow the COP to move posteriorly and approach the COM and meet it as quiet stance is achieved. The inverted pendulum model permitted us to understand the separate roles of the two mechanisms during these critical unbalancing and rebalancing periods.
During walking the inverted pendulum model explained the dynamics of the balance of HAT in both the A/P and M/L directions. Here the model includes the couple due to the acceleration of the weight-bearing hip as well as gravitational perturbations. The exclusive control of A/P balance and posture are the hip extensors and flexors, while in the M/L direction the dominant control is with the hip abductors with very minor adductor involvement. At the ankle the inverted pendulum model sees the COM passing forward along the medial border to the weight-bearing foot. The model predicts that during single support the body is falling forward and being accelerated medially towards the future position of the swing foot. The model predicts an insignificant role of the ankle invertors/evertors in the M/L control. Rather, the future position of the swing foot is the critical variable or more specifically the lateral displacement from the COM at the start of single support. The position is actually under the control of the hip abd/adductors during the previous early swing phase.
The critical importance of the hip abductors/adductors in balance during all phases of standing and walking is now evident. This separate mechanism is important from a neural control perspective and clinically it focuses major attention on therapy and potential problems with some surgical procedures. On the other hand the minuscule role of the ankle invertors/evertors is important to note. Except for the tandem standing position these muscles have negligible involvement in balance control. 相似文献
Summary A simple model of the thorax, pelvis and three columns of the intrinsic lumbar back muscles (=ILBM) was constructed. The model was used to study the length of the ILBM during the different stages of the walking cycle. The length of the right ILBM (especially the lateral column) was largest at right toe off, exactly the stage of the walking cycle in which most force was needed to prevent the torso from falling forwards and laterally. 相似文献
This study aimed to determine whether changes in plasma heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity following a brisk
walk were associated with decreases in fasting and/or postprandial triglyceride (TG) concentrations. Two groups of pre-menopausal
women participated. In one group (fasting study group, n=10), TG concentrations and post-heparin plasma LPL activity were measured in the fasted state on two occasions: ~18 h after
a 2-h treadmill walk at 50% maximal oxygen uptake (exercise trial); and after a day of no exercise (control trial). The other
group (postprandial study group, n=9) undertook two oral fat tolerance tests (blood samples taken fasting and for 6 h after a high-fat meal), with plasma LPL
activity measured 6 h after meal ingestion. Pre-conditions were the same as for the fasting study group (i.e. control and
prior exercise). Prior exercise reduced fasting TG concentrations by 23 (7)% (fasting study group) [mean (SEM)] and by 18
(9)% (postprandial study group) (both P<0.05), and the postprandial TG response by 23 (6)% (postprandial study group) (P<0.01). Plasma LPL activity was not significantly increased by exercise in either the fasting or postprandial study groups.
However, exercise-induced changes in both fasting and postprandial LPL activity were significantly correlated with the respective
exercise-induced changes in fasting TG concentration and the postprandial TG response (r=−0.70 and −0.77 respectively, P<0.05 for both). These data suggest that increased LPL activity may contribute to the hypotriglyceridaemic effect of moderate
exercise, although other mechanisms are also likely to be involved.
Electronic Publication 相似文献
Summary Retention of a backward classically conitioned reflex response was investigated in the spinal cat preparation. Facilitation of the flexion reflex was induced by the pairing of superficial peroneal nerve stimulation (30 Hz, 0.5 s), the US (unconditioned stimulus), with saphenous nerve stimulation (10 Hz, 1.5 s), the CS (conditioned stimulus). Both the US and CS were supramaximal for activation of A cutaneous afferent fibers. Experimental animals received 30 paired trials (US preceded CS by 0.25 s) with an intertrial interval (ITI) of three min. Control animals received the same stimuli but in an explicitly unpaired manner. Following acquisition, all animals received 30 additional CS-alone trials at five min intervals. This paradigm, which incorporated ITIs longer than those which had been used previously in backward conditioning studies, induced a long-lasting potentiation of the flexion reflex which appeared to be specific to spinal reflex pathways activated by A cutaneous fibers. The relevancy of these results to a more specific understanding of backward and forward classical conditioning in the spinal cat is discussed.Supported by NSF grants 8415917 and 8808495 相似文献