title: A new method to assess temporal features of gait initiation with a single force plate.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether time of toe-off and heel-contact during gait initiation could be assessed with a single force plate. Twenty subjects performed ten self-paced gait initiations and seven other subjects performed ten gait initiations in four new conditions (slow, fast, obstacle and splint). Several force-plate parameters were measured with a single force plate, and actual toe-off and heel-contact were assessed with a motion analysis system. Results showed strong temporal correlations and closeness (r=.86-.99, mean error=3-86 ms) between two force-plate parameters and the kinematics events (toe-off and heel-contact). These new parameters may be of interest to easily measure duration of anticipatory postural adjustments and swing phase during clinical assessments.
authors.affiliation: UJF-Grenoble 1/CNRS/TIMC-IMAG UMR 5525, Grenoble F-38041, France. Electronic address: bastien.moineau@imag.fr.
authors.forename: Bastien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moineau
authors.forename: Matthieu P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boisgontier
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nougier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006365:Heel / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Free vertical moment; Gait initiation; Heel-contact; Methodology; Toe-off