The influence of ambulatory speed on gait biomechanical parameters

Abstract

the aim of this study was to systematically review the literature of the xxi century on the effect of increased speed on gait biomechanics. three data base (pubmed, science direct and scopus) were searched from 2001 to 2010 using the terms: (gait OR walking OR walk) AND (velocity OR speed) AND (ground reaction forces OR kinetics OR kinematics or biomechanical OR biomechanics OR plantar pressure OR electromyography OR mathematical model) AND (comparison OR compare OR change OR relation OR influence). a total of 71 papers were selected, dealing with analysis based on plantar pressure, electromyography, kinetical, and kinematical variables. results showed that there is a consensus about the effect of increasing gait speed on the (i) duration of stance phase; (ii) stride and step frequency; (iii) stride and step length; (iv) duration of double-limb support phase; (v) duration of gait cycle; (vi) peak pressure; (vii) maximum force; (viii) vertical ground reaction force (GrF) peaks and intermediate minimum; (ix) instant of vertical GrF peaks and intermediate minimum; (x) vertical impulse; (xi) anterior-posterior GrF peaks; (xii) anterior-posterior GrF impulse; (xiii) peak of joint moments; (xiv) peak powers; (xv) mechanical work; (xvi) centre of mass amplitudes; (xvii) muscle activity.