Emulating constant acceleration locomotion mechanics on a treadmill

Abstract Locomotion on an accelerating treadmill belt is not dynamically similar to overground acceleration. The purpose of this study was to test if providing an external force to compensate for inertial forces during locomotion on an accelerating treadmill belt could induce locomotor dynamics simi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2016-03, Vol.49 (5), p.653-658
Main Author: Farris, Dominic James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Adult
Belts
Biomechanical Phenomena
Colleges & universities
Conflicts of interest
Dynamics
Exercise Test
Fitness equipment
Force
Gait
Humans
Impulse
Impulses
Linear Models
Locomotion
Male
Mathematical analysis
Mechanical Phenomena
Mechanical work
Mechanics
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Product design
Rehabilitation
Running
Running - physiology
Treadmills
Walking
Walking - physiology
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Summary:Abstract Locomotion on an accelerating treadmill belt is not dynamically similar to overground acceleration. The purpose of this study was to test if providing an external force to compensate for inertial forces during locomotion on an accelerating treadmill belt could induce locomotor dynamics similar to real accelerations. Nine males (mean±sd age=26±4 years, mass=81±9 kg, height=1.8±0.05 m) began walking and transitioned to running on an accelerating instrumented treadmill belt at three accelerations (0.27 m s−2 , 0.42 m s−2 , 0.76 m s−2 ). Half the trials were typical treadmill locomotion (TT) and half were emulated acceleration (EA), where elastic tubing harnessed to the participant provided a horizontal force equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. Net mechanical work ( W COM ) and ground reaction force impulses ( I GRF ) were calculated for individual steps and a linear regression was performed with these experimental measures as independent variables and theoretically derived values of work and impulse as predictor variables. For EA, linear fits were significant for WCOM ( y =1.19 x +10.5, P
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.01.030