Abstract
BackgroundStride interval persistence, a term used to describe the correlation structure of stride interval time series, is thought to provide insight into neuromotor control, though its exact clinical meaning has not yet been realized. Since human locomotion is shaped by energy efficient movements, it has been hypothesized that stride interval dynamics and energy expenditure may be inherently tied, both having demonstrated similar sensitivities to age, disease, and pace-constrained walking.FindingsThis study tested for correlations between stride interval persistence and measures of energy expenditure including mass-specific gross oxygen consumption per minute (), mass-specific gross oxygen cost per meter (VO2) and heart rate (HR). Metabolic and stride interval data were collected from 30 asymptomatic children who completed one 10-minute walking trial under each of the following conditions: (i) overground walking, (ii) hands-free treadmill walking, and (iii) handrail-supported treadmill walking. Stride interval persistence was not significantly correlated with (p > 0.32), VO2 (p > 0.18) or HR (p > 0.56).ConclusionsNo simple linear dependence exists between stride interval persistence and measures of gross energy expenditure in asymptomatic children when walking overground and on a treadmill.
Highlights
Stride interval persistence, a term used to describe the correlation structure of stride interval time series, is thought to provide insight into neuromotor control, though its exact clinical meaning has not yet been realized
In addition to unsupported treadmill walking, we considered overground walking and handrail-supported treadmill walking. These walking conditions, commonly implemented in gait research, have been found to differ in terms of both physiological cost [10,11] and stride interval persistence [12](Fairley, Sejdić and Chau: The effect of treadmill walking on the stride interval dynamics of children, submitted)
Data Analysis Stride interval extraction and quantification of stride interval persistence was carried out as described in (Fairley, Sejdić and Chau: The effect of treadmill walking on the stride interval dynamics of children, submitted)
Summary
A term used to describe the correlation structure of stride interval time series, is thought to provide insight into neuromotor control, though its exact clinical meaning has not yet been realized. Since human locomotion is shaped by energy efficient movements, it has been hypothesized that stride interval dynamics and energy expenditure may be inherently tied, both having demonstrated similar sensitivities to age, disease, and pace-constrained walking. The human stride interval (i.e., the time between consecutive heel strikes of the same foot) exhibits statistical persistence, with correlations extending over thousands of strides [1]. This persistence is typically quantified in terms of a, a scaling estimate provided by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) [1,2]. We expected that decreased stride interval persistence would be associated with increased energy expenditure and vice versa
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