Effects of Treadmill Walking on Gait Variability and Stability
Author Information
Author(s): Philippe Terrier, Olivier Dériaz
Primary Institution: Institut de Recherche en Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
Hypothesis
Treadmill walking may induce less persistent patterns in stride intervals and increase local dynamic stability compared to overground walking.
Conclusion
Treadmill walking increased gait stability but did not change kinematic variability in healthy subjects.
Supporting Evidence
- Treadmill walking did not modify kinematic gait variability compared to overground walking.
- Treadmill walking significantly modified fractal dynamics and local dynamic stability.
- Significant negative correlation was found between kinematic variability and dynamic stability during treadmill walking.
Takeaway
Walking on a treadmill makes you more stable but doesn't change how much your steps vary compared to walking on the ground.
Methodology
Twenty healthy subjects performed 10 min of treadmill and overground walking while trunk accelerations were recorded using a triaxial accelerometer.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and lack of diversity in participant demographics.
Limitations
The study only included healthy male subjects, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Twenty healthy male subjects, mean age 35 years, with no neurological or orthopedic impairments.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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