Effects of step length and step frequency on lower-limb muscle function in human gait
Journal article
Lim, Yoong Ping, Lin, Yi-Chung and Pandy, Marcus G.. (2017). Effects of step length and step frequency on lower-limb muscle function in human gait. Journal of Biomechanics. 57, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.03.004
Authors | Lim, Yoong Ping, Lin, Yi-Chung and Pandy, Marcus G. |
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Abstract | The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of step length and step frequency on lower-limb muscle function in walking. Three-dimensional gait data were used in conjunction with musculoskeletal modeling techniques to evaluate muscle function over a range of walking speeds using prescribed combinations of step length and step frequency. The body was modeled as a 10-segment, 21-degree-of-freedom skeleton actuated by 54 muscle-tendon units. Lower-limb muscle forces were calculated using inverse dynamics and static optimization. We found that five muscles – GMAX, GMED, VAS, GAS, and SOL – dominated vertical support and forward progression independent of changes made to either step length or step frequency, and that, overall, changes in step length had a greater influence on lower-limb joint motion, net joint moments and muscle function than step frequency. Peak forces developed by the uniarticular hip and knee extensors, as well as the normalized fiber lengths at which these muscles developed their peak forces, correlated more closely with changes in step length than step frequency. Increasing step length resulted in larger contributions from the hip and knee extensors and smaller contributions from gravitational forces (limb posture) to vertical support. These results provide insight into why older people with weak hip and knee extensors walk more slowly by reducing step length rather than step frequency and also help to identify the key muscle groups that ought to be targeted in exercise programs designed to improve gait biomechanics in older adults. |
Keywords | walking speed; cadence; support; progression; musculoskeletal model |
Year | 2017 |
Journal | Journal of Biomechanics |
Journal citation | 57, pp. 1-7 |
Publisher | Elsevier Ltd |
ISSN | 0021-9290 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.03.004 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85017343171 |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 1-7 |
Funder | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge, and Innovation (VESKI) | |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 21 Mar 2017 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 06 Mar 2017 |
Deposited | 17 Aug 2022 |
ARC Funded Research | This output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 |
Grant ID | DP160104366 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y1xv/effects-of-step-length-and-step-frequency-on-lower-limb-muscle-function-in-human-gait
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