title: Why change gaits? Dynamics of the walk-run transition.
abstract: Why do humans switch from walking to running at a particular speed? It is proposed that gait transitions behave like nonequilibrium phase transitions between attractors. Experiment 1 examined walking and running on a treadmill while speed was varied. The transition occurred at the equal-energy separatrix between gaits, with predicted shifts in stride length and frequency, a qualitative reorganization in the relative phasing of segments within a leg, a sudden jump in relative phase, enhanced fluctuations in relative phase, and hysteresis. Experiment 2 dissociated speed, frequency, and stride length to show that the transition occurred at a constant speed near the energy separatrix. Results are consistent with a dynamic theory of locomotion in which preferred gaits are characterized by stable phase relationships and minimum energy expenditure, and gait transitions by a loss of stability and the reduction of energetic costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Diedrich
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D012420:Running; D016138:Walking