title: Split-Belt Treadmill Walking Alters Lower Extremity Frontal Plane Mechanics.
abstract: Interventions that manipulate gait speed may also affect the control of frontal plane mechanics. Expanding the current knowledge of frontal plane adaptations during split-belt treadmill walking could advance our understanding of the influence of asymmetries in gait speed on frontal plane mechanics and provide insight into the breadth of adaptations required by split-belt walking (SBW). Thirteen young, healthy participants, free from lower extremity injury walked on a split-belt treadmill with belts moving simultaneously at different speeds. We examined frontal plane mechanics of the ankle, knee, and hip joints during SBW, as well as medio-lateral ground reaction forces (ML-GRF). We did not observe alterations in the frontal mechanics produced during early or late adaptation of SBW when compared to conditions where the belts moved together. We did observe that ML-GRF and hip moment impulse of the fast limb increased over time with adaptation to SBW. These results suggest this modality may provide a unique therapy for individuals with gait pathologies, impairments, or compensation(s).
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida.
authors.forename: Jaimie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roper
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida.|2 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Roemmich
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida.|3 Kennesaw State University.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tillman
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Terza
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hass
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019415:Torque; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adaptation; gait; joint torque; walking