Humans robustly adhere to dynamic walking principles by harnessing motor abundance to control forces.

ABSTRACT: Human walking dynamics are typically framed in the context of mechanics and energetics rather than in the context of neuromuscular control. Dynamic walking principles describe one helpful theoretical approach to characterize efficient human walking mechanics over many steps. These principles do not, however, address how such walking is controlled step-by-step despite small perturbations from natural variability. Our purpose was to identify neuromechanical control strategies used to achieve consistent and robust locomotion despite natural step-to-step force variability. We used the uncontrolled manifold concept to test whether human walkers select combinations of leading and trailing leg-forces that generate equivalent net-force trajectories during step-to-step transitions. Subjects selecte

SUBMITTER: Toney ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3881286 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature