Effects of additional anterior body mass on gait
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Published version
Date
2016-05-10
Authors
Gill, Simone V.
Ogamba, Maureen
Lewis, Cara L.
Version
OA Version
Citation
Simone V Gill, Maureen Ogamba, Cara L Lewis. "Effects of additional anterior body mass on gait.." BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, BMC series – open, inclusive and trusted, 2016, 16:109.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-016-0893-0
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Gradual increases in mass such as during pregnancy are associated with changes in gait at natural velocities. The purpose of this study was to examine how added mass at natural and imposed slow walking velocities would affect gait parameters. METHODS: Eighteen adult females walked at two velocities (natural and 25 % slower than their natural pace) under four mass conditions (initial harness only (1 kg), 4.535 kg added anteriorly, 9.07 kg added anteriorly, and final harness only (1 kg)). We collected gait kinematics (100 Hz) using a motion capture system. RESULTS: Added anterior mass decreased cycle time and stride length. Stride width decreased once the mass was removed (p < .01). Added mass resulted in smaller peak hip extension angles (p < .01). The imposed slow walking velocity increased cycle time, double limb support time and decreased stride length, peak hip extension angles, and peak plantarflexion angles (p < .01). With added anterior mass and an imposed slow walking velocity, participants decreased cycle time when mass was added and increased cycle time once the mass was removed (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Gait adaptations may be commensurate with the magnitude of additional mass when walking at imposed slow versus natural velocities. This study presents a method for understanding how increased mass and imposed speed might affect gait independent of other effects related to pregnancy. Examining how added body mass and speed influence gait is one step in better understanding how women adapt to walking under different conditions.
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© 2016 Gill et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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