TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy cost of balance control during walking decreases with external stabilizer stiffness independent of walking speed
AU - Ijmker, T.
AU - Houdijk, J.H.P.
AU - Lamoth, C.J.C.
AU - Beek, P.J.
AU - van der Woude, L.H.V.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Human walking requires active neuromuscular control to ensure stability in the lateral direction, which inflicts a certain metabolic load. The magnitude of this metabolic load has previously been investigated by means of passive external lateral stabilization via spring-like cords. In the present study, we applied this method to test two hypotheses: (1) the effect of external stabilization on energy cost depends on the stiffness of the stabilizing springs, and (2) the energy cost for balance control, and consequently the effect of external stabilization on energy cost, depends on walking speed. Fourteen healthy young adults walked on a motor driven treadmill without stabilization and with stabilization with four different spring stiffnesses (between 760 and 1820Nm
AB - Human walking requires active neuromuscular control to ensure stability in the lateral direction, which inflicts a certain metabolic load. The magnitude of this metabolic load has previously been investigated by means of passive external lateral stabilization via spring-like cords. In the present study, we applied this method to test two hypotheses: (1) the effect of external stabilization on energy cost depends on the stiffness of the stabilizing springs, and (2) the energy cost for balance control, and consequently the effect of external stabilization on energy cost, depends on walking speed. Fourteen healthy young adults walked on a motor driven treadmill without stabilization and with stabilization with four different spring stiffnesses (between 760 and 1820Nm
U2 - 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.07.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.07.005
M3 - Article
SN - 0021-9290
VL - 46
SP - 2109
EP - 2114
JO - Journal of Biomechanics
JF - Journal of Biomechanics
IS - 13
ER -
