title: Separation of rotational and translational segmental momentum to assess movement coordination during walking.
abstract: This investigation presents an analysis of segmental angular momentum to describe segmental coordination during walking. Generating and arresting momentum is an intuitive concept, and also forms the foundation of Newton-Euler dynamics. Total segmental angular momentum is separated into separate components, translational angular momentum (TAM) and rotational angular momentum (RAM), which provide different but complementary perspectives of the segmental dynamics needed to achieve forward progression during walking. TAM was referenced to the stance foot, which provides insight into the mechanisms behind how forward progression is achieved through coordinated segmental motion relative to the foot. Translational and rotational segmental moments were calculated directly from TAM and RAM, via Euler's 1st and 2nd laws in angular momentum form, respectively, and are composed of the effects of intersegmental forces and joint moments. Using data from 14 healthy participants, the effort required to generate and arrest momentum were assessed by linking the features of segmental angular momentum and the associated segmental moments to well-known spatiotemporal and kinetic features of the gait cycle. Segmental momentum provides an opportunity to explore and understand system-wide dynamics of coordination from an alternative perspective that is rooted in fundamentals of dynamics, and can be estimated using only segmental kinematic measurements.
authors.affiliation: University of Denver, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Denver, CO, United States.
authors.forename: Brecca M M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Aurora, CO, United States; VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, CO, United States.
authors.forename: Cory L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Denver, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Aurora, CO, United States; VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, CO, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Colorado School of Mines, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Golden, CO, United States.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.affiliation: University of Denver, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Denver, CO, United States. Electronic address: bradley.davidson@du.edu.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016138:Walking
keywords: Gait; Movement patterns; Segmental angular momentum