The human preference for symmetric walking often disappears when one leg is constrained.

ABSTRACT:

Key points

We hypothesized that minimization of metabolic power could drive people to walk asymmetrically when one leg is constrained We studied healthy young adults and independently constrained one or both step lengths to be markedly shorter or longer than preferred using visual feedback When one leg was constrained to take a shorter or longer step than preferred, asymmetric walking patterns were less metabolically costly than symmetric walking patterns When one leg was constrained to take a shorter or longer step than preferred and the other leg was allowed to move freely, most participants naturally adopted an asymmetric gait People may prefer to walk asymmetrically to minimize metabolic power when the function of one leg is constrained during fixed-speed treadmill walking ABST

SUBMITTER: Browne MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8137151 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature