Isolating the energetic and mechanical consequences of imposed reductions in ankle and knee flexion during gait.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Weakness of ankle and knee musculature following injury or disorder results in reduced joint motion associated with metabolically expensive gait compensations to enable limb support and advancement. However, neuromechanical coupling between the ankle and knee make it difficult to discern independent roles of these restrictions in joint motion on compensatory mechanics and metabolic penalties.

Methods

We sought to determine relative impacts of ankle and knee impairment on compensatory gait strategies and energetic outcomes using an unimpaired cohort (N = 15) with imposed unilateral joint range of motion restrictions as a surrogate for reduced motion resulting from gait pathology. Participants walked on a dual-belt instrumented treadmill at 0.8 m s^-1 usin

SUBMITTER: McCain EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7852087 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature