SOME OBSERVATIONS OF HUMAN AMBULATION

Abstract

In order to develop a walking simulator for clothing research, human ambulation was examined using moving pictures as was reported previously.The following results were obtained.1. In males horizontal vibration angle Θ of the anterior thigh and flexing angle Θ of the anterior leg in frontal plane vary within 80°_??_100° and 160°_??_190°, respectively.In females these angles vary within 80°_??_90° and 180°_??_190°, respectively. From these results, horizontal vibration angle of the anterior thigh in frontal plane are 3°_??_10°, which agree well with the angles reported by Vukobratovic.2. The difference between lateral displacement of knee and that of ankle mutually varies in a walking cycle and this difference reduced by testee's height shows a maximum value before and after the time at toe off.The ratio of the lateral value of the knee position to that of the ankle also shows a maximum value before and after the time at foot flat in a walking cycle. The highest values of the maxima are obtained in males with the so-called bandy-legged walking.3. Tracks of swinging knee and ankle in frontal plane in a walking cycle exhibit a very complicated configuration resembling a deformed gourd-shaped pattern.4. From the above results, human gait could be classified into normal, bandy-legged and pigeon-toed walking patterns.5. Angles a and β observed in sagittal plane of leg motion agree well with reported values.