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To identify the degree of difference between treadmill and floor walking, kinematic, electromyographic (EMG), and heart rate measurements were recorded in seven normal female subjects during walking at three speeds on the treadmill and on the floor. During treadmill walking, subjects tended to use a faster cadence and shorter stride length than during floor walking. In addition the displacements of the head, hip, and ankle in the sagittal plane showed statistically significant differences between floor and treadmill walking. Average EMG activity was usually greater on the treadmill than on the floor; however, this difference was only significant for the quadriceps. Heart rate was significantly higher during fast treadmill walking than floor walking. In general, treadmill walking was not found to differ markedly from floor walking in kinematic measurements or EMG patterns.

Kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) activity were recorded in seven normal women during walking at slow, free, and fast speeds. Speed-related differences were found in the stride dimensions, temporal components, and most of the simultaneous displacement patterns of body segments measured. For most of the muscles tested, the amplitude of normalized EMG activity decreased as walking speed decreased. The findings emphasize the importance of accounting for the effect of speed itself on measurements of gait.