Gait & Posture
Volume 31, Issue 4 , Pages 461-464, April 2010

Variation in trunk kinematics influences variation in step width during treadmill walking by older and younger adults

  • Christopher P. Hurt

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition (MC 994), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 W. Taylor Street, Room 654, Chicago, IL 60612, United States. Tel.: +1 312 996 9432; fax: +1 312 413 0319.
    • ,
  • Noah Rosenblatt

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
    • ,
  • Jeremy R. Crenshaw

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
    • ,
  • Mark D. Grabiner

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States
    • Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States

Received 15 December 2008; received in revised form 18 January 2010; accepted 1 February 2010. published online 25 February 2010.

Abstract 

Step-by-step variations in step width have been hypothesized to reflect adjustments to swing foot placement in response to preceding frontal plane trunk kinematics. The present study tested this hypothesis while 12 younger and 11 older subjects walked on treadmill for 10min at a self-selected velocity. The relationship between step-by-step variations in step width and frontal plane trunk COM kinematics was determined using multiple regression analysis. Trunk kinematics at midstance were significantly (p<0.001) and strongly (R2=0.54) related to the subsequent foot placement supporting the primary hypothesis. Additionally, this relationship was significantly affected by age (p<0.001) and stepping limb (p<0.001). These results implicate feedback driven control of foot trajectory during the swing phase. Further, they provide a biomechanical framework by which loss of frontal plane dynamic stability may result from a step width that is insufficient to decelerate and redirect trunk kinematics in preparation for the next step.

Keywords: Biomechanics, Dynamic stability, Gait, Step width

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PII: S0966-6362(10)00039-1

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.02.001

Gait & Posture
Volume 31, Issue 4 , Pages 461-464, April 2010

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