Coordination of head and trunk accelerations during walking

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oscillatory dynamics of the head and trunk in each plane of motion during walking. Head and trunk accelerations of ten healthy subjects (age: 23 +/- 4 years) were measured in the vertical (VT), anterior-posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions using a pair of tri-axial accelerometers. All subjects performed five walking trials along a level 20 m walkway at their preferred gait velocity (1.30 +/- 0.15 m s(-1)). Acceleration data were analysed using power spectral, harmonic and regularity measures. Results indicated that: (1) oscillations of the head were smoother, with a greater proportion of power at lower frequencies than oscillations of the trunk, (2) differences in power spectral properties between the head and trunk were most pronounced in the ML direction, (3) coupling between VT-AP, VT-ML, and AP-ML accelerations were greater for the head than trunk, and (4) for both segments, the weakest coupling was observed for AP-ML acceleration relations. Overall, the results of this study suggest that accelerations of the head are significantly attenuated, and more tightly controlled, compared to accelerations of the lower trunk. This attenuation process was particularly evident for the ML direction, whereby head accelerations showed the greatest differences compared to ML accelerations at the trunk.

Head stabilization in children of both genders during level walking

“…In young healthy adults, the oscillations of the upper body during level walking are characterised by an attenuation of the linear acceleration going up from pelvis-to-head level [1][2][3][4]. This attenuation can be read as a control strategy put into place to compensate for the perturbation generated by the lower body movements to preserve the head stability and hence improve walking balance [5].…”

Gait variability measures may represent different constructs

“…Hausdorff et al [11] measured temporal characteristics of gait using stride time variability and swing time variability as markers of impaired control, arhythmicity, and unsteadiness. Variability in the acceleration of the pelvis, trunk or head have also been shown to offer information related to balance control during walking [12][13][14]. Recently, studies using body-worn sensors have suggested that interstep and interstride trunk acceleration variability along different axes may indicate either adaptability or impairment [15][16][17].…”

Quantifying show jumping horse rider expertise using IMUs

“…Previous work on human movement with accelerometers shows that humans minimize head accelerations in order to allow visual and vestibular processes to function more efficiently [7]. These same processes work more efficiently in experienced riders; which gives them an advantage when jumping consecutive fences, since they are able to always take in spatial feedback to correct their position on the horse and to correct the horse's movements.…”