Novel Kinetic Strategies Adopted in Asymmetric Split-Belt Treadmill Walking

ABSTRACT

The hip and ankle strategies that affect learning of a novel gait have not been fully determined, and could be of importance in design of clinical gait interventions. The authors' purpose was to determine the effects of asymmetric split-belt treadmill walking on ankle and hip work during propulsion. Participants were randomized into either a gradual training group or a sudden training group and later returned for a retention test. The gradual training group performed significantly more work at the hip joint of the slow limb during acquisition, and decreased the hip joint work performed during retention. These findings reveal the hip joint on the slow limb during initial swing as a possible site of adaptation to a novel locomotor pattern.

Keywords:

• adaptation
• gait
• motor learning
• split-belt
• walking kinetics

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the analysis support provided by Mahyo S. Beazer and Andrew B. Sawers.

Funding

This work was supported, in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs (#A4843C), while Dr. Hahn was employed at the VA Puget Sound.