Walk-, run- and gallop-like gait patterns in human sideways locomotion.
The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of gait patterns in human preferred sideways locomotion at increasing speeds. Fifteen healthy young males were asked to step sideways on a treadmill at various speeds of 1.3-6.1 km/h. The times of foot contact and take-off were analyzed. Three gait patterns were observed. At slow speeds, all of the subjects performed a walk-like pattern. When the treadmill speed exceeded approximately 3.5 km/h, the subjects preferred gait patterns with a flight phase. Most of the subjects performed an asymmetric gait pattern that was similar to a forward gallop, whereas only two out of fifteen subjects performed a run-like gait pattern. Because the left and right legs are positioned along the movement direction, it might be more efficient to divide roles between the leading and trailing limbs at high speeds: the leading limb functions to produces breaking and vertical force, and the trailing limb mainly absorbs the impact of foot contact and generates propulsive forces.
Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.
Daichi
D
Yamashita
Masahiro
M
Shinya
Keisuke
K
Fujii
Shingo
S
Oda
Motoki
M
Kouzaki
D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
Gait transition; Side stepping; Treadmill