Hitting a support surface at unexpected height during walking induces loading transients

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• 作者：Marleen H. van der Linden ; Henk T. Hendricks ; Bastiaan R. Bloem ; Jacques Duysens
• 关键词：Gait ; Impact ; Transient ; Foot placement ; Unexpected ; Unloading ; Surface height
• 刊名：Gait and Posture
• 出版年：2009
• 出版时间：February 2009
• 年：2009
• 卷：29
• 期：2
• 页码：255-260
• 全文大小：578 K

文摘

The impact phase during walking is sometimes characterised by an early loading peak, termed 18;transient 19;, followed by a brief decline in the force profile, termed 18;unloading phase 19;. It was hypothesized that transients occur more frequently when subjects are unaware of the landing condition, and that the unloading phase represents a yield of the leg. This was tested experimentally by introducing an unexpectedly lowered or level support surface height during walking. Furthermore, associations between the unloading phase and type of foot placement, load-rate, kinesiology and centre of pressure were investigated.

The transient occurred more frequently when subjects were unaware of the surface height. The amplitude of unloading was higher in flatfooted (combined), as compared to heel and toe landings. The percentage of combined landings, as well as the amplitude and duration of unloading were highest in the first unexpected level trials (UL1) and gradually decreased in the subsequent level trials, when subjects adapted to the situation. Following the UL1 unloading phase, the foot roll-off was halted, the ipsilateral knee flexed, the onset of the contralateral swing phase was delayed, and the double support phase increased. The unloading amplitude correlated significantly with the load-rate and knee flexion.

It is concluded that an unexpected surface height frequently induces an early stance transient that is followed by an unloading phase, flexion response and halt in foot roll-off. These characteristics deserve further study in the context of the frequent falls induced by uneven surfaces during walking.