Motor-equivalent covariation stabilizes step parameters and center of mass position during treadmill walking
Författare
Summary, in English
We investigated motor-equivalent stabilization of task-related variables (TRV) at times of heel strike in eight healthy young men (23-30 years) who walked on a motorized treadmill at self-selected and prescribed speeds within the normal walking speed range. The TRV consisted of step parameters (step length and width) and the center of mass (CoM) position relative to the support (back and front feet). Motor-equivalent stabilization of the TRV was assessed using a decorrelation technique, comparing empirical to decorrelated (covariation-free) variability. Analysis indicated reliable covariation for all TRV. In both the fore-aft and lateral directions, stabilization by covariation was highest for CoM position relative to the front foot, indicating a prioritization of equilibrium-related variables. Correlations among TRV revealed that the relation between CoM and step parameter control differed between the fore-aft and lateral directions. While stabilization of lateral foot position appears to be due to control of CoM relative to each foot, step length showed small, but reliable, stabilization beyond CoM stabilization, which may be related to spatiotemporal regularity of the step pattern.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2010
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
13-26
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Experimental Brain Research
Volym
207
Issue
1-2
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Springer
Ämne
- Neurosciences
Nyckelord
- coordination
- Equilibrium
- Gait variability
- Covariation by randomization
- Movement
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 0014-4819