Lower limb biomechanical analysis during an unanticipated step on a bump reveals specific adaptations of walking on uneven terrains

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.161158
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15T22:30:22Z
• Authors: Fausto A. Panizzolo; Sangjun Lee; Taira Miyatake; Denise Martineli ...; Christopher Siviy; Jozefien Speeckaert; Ignacio Galiana; Conor J. Walsh
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Knee Joint; Walking; Adaptation, Physiological; Biomechanical Phenomena; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Lower Extremity; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Hip Joint; Gait; Ankle Joint

ABSTRACT Although it is clear that walking over different irregular terrain associated with altered biomechanics, there little understanding of how we quickly adapt to unexpected variations in terrain. This study aims investigate which adaptive strategies humans adopt when performing an unanticipated step on surface, specifically a small bump. Nine healthy male participants walked at their preferred speed along straight walkway during five conditions: four involving bumps two heights, and one level condition. Muscle activation eight lower limb muscles three-dimensional gait analysis were evaluated these testing conditions. Two distinct found, involved no significant change total mechanical work or speed. An ankle-based strategy was adopted stepping bump the forefoot, whereas hip-based rearfoot. These driven by higher plantarflexor (6–51%), generated ankle joint moment forefoot conditions quadriceps (36–93%), produced knee hip power rearfoot findings provide insights into react events could be used inform design controllers for wearable robots intended use unstructured environments can optimal assistance joints.