Abstract

We developed a self-paced load-controlled treadmill with two built-in force plates to enhance lower limb muscles. Since the load can be changed freely with a load-controlled treadmill, it can be widely utilized in fields such as rehabilitation and training. In this paper, we experimentally investigated the difference between single-belt and split-belt load-controlled treadmills with two subjects, who walked 30 s with a constant load r = 0, 5, 10, 15% based on the maximum driving force on both treadmills. Our result showed that the angular range of the motion of the ankle joints when walking on a single-belt treadmill was up to 2.68 times larger than walking on a split-belt treadmill. The ground reaction force reading showed that the ankle joint moment on a single-belt was larger during the terminal stance, suggesting that single-belt treadmills more effectively enhance lower limb muscles.

Highlights

  • Treadmills are often used for various purposes because they do not require much space and allow many walking patterns

  • A load-controlled treadmill is a self-paced machine on which users can walk or run by applying a kicking force to the plate belts

  • A load that corresponds to the reaction force can be generated by sending feedback of the force information obtained from the force plates

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Summary

Introduction

Treadmills are often used for various purposes because they do not require much space and allow many walking patterns. Since we believe that people contract their muscles and create force when they walk on a self-paced treadmill, we developed a self-paced load-controlled treadmill with two built-in force plates and predicted that the treadmill would strengthen lower limb muscles, such as the soleus and gastrocnemius. We expect that such a treadmill will be widely utilized in rehabilitation for seniors, patients who have difficulty walking, and training for athletes. We previously compared the differences between a treadmill with a constant speed and a loadcontrolled treadmill with various load cases [1]. Our subject moved with a fore posture when walking on a load-controlled treadmill

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