Multiple walking speed-frequency relations are predicted by constrained optimization.
A person constrained to walk at a given speed v on a treadmill, chooses a particular step frequency f and step length d=v/f. Testing over a range of speeds generates a speed-frequency (v-f) relationship. This relationship is commonly posited as a basic feature of human gait. It is often further posited that this curve follows from minimum energy cost strategy. We observed that individuals walking under different constraint circumstances--walking to a range of fixed metronome frequencies (fixed f) or over a range of spaced markers (fixed d)--produce speed-frequency relations distinct from the constrained v relation. We show here that three distinct speed-frequency curves, similar to those observed, are predicted by the assumption that a walking person optimizes an underlying objective function F (v, f) that has a minimum at the preferred gait. Further, the metabolic cost of transport is a reasonable approximate candidate for the function F.
Bertram
J E
JE
Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. jbertram@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
Ruina
A
A
D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology