TY - JOUR
T1 - Voluntary changes in step width and step length during human walking affect dynamic margins of stability
AU - McAndrew Young, Patricia M.
AU - Dingwell, Jonathan B.
N1 - Funding Information:
Support provided by American Society of Biomechanics Student Grant-in-Aid Award (PMMY) and National Institutes of Health Grant 1-R21-EB007638-01A1 (JBD). Conflict of interest
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - " Cautious" gait is generally characterized by wider and shorter steps. However, we do not clearly understand the relationship between step characteristics and individuals' stability. Here, we examined the effects of voluntarily altering step width (SW) and step length (SL) on individuals' margins of stability. Fourteen participants completed three 3-min treadmill walking trials during three SL (short, normal with metronome, and long) and three SW (narrow, normal and wide) manipulation conditions. SL manipulations yielded significant changes in mean anterior-posterior (AP) margins of stability (MOSap) (p<0.0005) but not mediolateral (ML) margins of stability (MOSml) (p≥0.0579). Taking wider steps increased mean MOSml while decreasing MOSap (p<0.0005). Walking with either wider or long steps, each of which increases the base of support, yielded increased AP and ML MOS variability (p≤0.0468). Step-to-step analysis of MOSml indicated that subjects took stable steps followed immediately by stable steps. Overall, short-term, voluntary adoption of wider steps may help increase instantaneous lateral stability but shorter steps did not change lateral stability during unperturbed walking. We suggest that the observed changes in stability margins be considered in gait training programs which recommend short-term changes in step characteristics to improve stability.
AB - " Cautious" gait is generally characterized by wider and shorter steps. However, we do not clearly understand the relationship between step characteristics and individuals' stability. Here, we examined the effects of voluntarily altering step width (SW) and step length (SL) on individuals' margins of stability. Fourteen participants completed three 3-min treadmill walking trials during three SL (short, normal with metronome, and long) and three SW (narrow, normal and wide) manipulation conditions. SL manipulations yielded significant changes in mean anterior-posterior (AP) margins of stability (MOSap) (p<0.0005) but not mediolateral (ML) margins of stability (MOSml) (p≥0.0579). Taking wider steps increased mean MOSml while decreasing MOSap (p<0.0005). Walking with either wider or long steps, each of which increases the base of support, yielded increased AP and ML MOS variability (p≤0.0468). Step-to-step analysis of MOSml indicated that subjects took stable steps followed immediately by stable steps. Overall, short-term, voluntary adoption of wider steps may help increase instantaneous lateral stability but shorter steps did not change lateral stability during unperturbed walking. We suggest that the observed changes in stability margins be considered in gait training programs which recommend short-term changes in step characteristics to improve stability.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.02.020
DO - 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.02.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 22472707
AN - SCOPUS:84862876804
SN - 0966-6362
VL - 36
SP - 219
EP - 224
JO - Gait and Posture
JF - Gait and Posture
IS - 2
ER -