Transition versus Continuous Slope Walking: Adaptation to Change Center of Mass Velocity in Young Men.

Yoon No Gregory Hong,Jinkyu Lee,Choongsoo S Shin

doi:10.1155/2018/2028638

Yoon No Gregory Hong, Jinkyu Lee + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2028638

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Abstract

During continuous uphill walking (UW) or downhill walking, human locomotion is modified to counteract the gravitational force, aiding or impeding the body's forward momentum, respectively. This study aimed at investigating the center of mass (COM) and center of pressure (COP) velocities and their relative distance during the transition from uphill to downhill walking (UDW) to determine whether locomotor adjustments differ between UDW and UW. Fourteen participants walked on a triangular slope and a continuous upslope of 15°. The kinematics and COPs were obtained using a force plate and a motion capture system. The vertical velocity of the COM in the propulsion phase, the horizontal distance between the COM and COP at initial contact, and the duration of the subphases significantly differed between UDW and UW (all p < 0.05). Compared with the results of UW, longer durations and the deeper downward moving COM in the propulsion phase were observed during UDW (all p < 0.05). Additionally, a shorter horizontal distance between the COM and COP at initial contact was associated with a slower vertical COM velocity in the propulsion phase during UDW. The reduced velocity is likely a gait alteration to decrease the forward momentum of the body during UDW.

Highlights

Activities of daily living occasionally require pedestrians to walk on slopes, which places more mechanical demand on lower-extremity joints compared with level walking [1]
During uphill to downhill walking (UDW), the center of mass (COM) was closer to the center of pressure (COP) in the horizontal direction at initial contact (p = 0 024, Table 1, Figures 3(a) and 3(b)), and this difference of COM-COP distances between uphill walking (UW) and UDW at initial contact was maintained through the stance phase
Was closer to the COP in the horizontal direction at initial contact (p = 0 024, Table 1, Figures 3(a) and 3(b)), and this difference of COM-COP distances between UW and UDW at initial contact was maintained through the stance phase

Summary

Introduction

Activities of daily living occasionally require pedestrians to walk on slopes, which places more mechanical demand on lower-extremity joints compared with level walking [1]. The body needs to actively counteract the gravitational effect, which pulls the body downward in the opposite vertical direction during uphill walking (UW) but pushes the body downward in the same vertical direction during downhill walking (DW). Because these gravitational effects could be associated with a backward fall and a forward fall during UW and DW, respectively, it is important to consider the gravitational effects on the forward momentum of the body to evaluate the locomotion during slope walking (Figure 1(a)). The current foot step is still placed on the uphill slope, the locomotor adjustment might need to be modified to manage the balance between the current uphill and the upcoming downhill (Figure 1(a))

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