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Motor-equivalent covariation stabilizes step parameters and center of mass position during treadmill walking

Verrel, Julius ; Lövdén, Martin LU and Lindenberger, Ulman (2010) In Experimental Brain Research 207(1-2). p.13-26
Abstract
We investigated motor-equivalent stabilization of task-related variables (TRV) at times of heel strike in eight healthy young men (23-30 years) who walked on a motorized treadmill at self-selected and prescribed speeds within the normal walking speed range. The TRV consisted of step parameters (step length and width) and the center of mass (CoM) position relative to the support (back and front feet). Motor-equivalent stabilization of the TRV was assessed using a decorrelation technique, comparing empirical to decorrelated (covariation-free) variability. Analysis indicated reliable covariation for all TRV. In both the fore-aft and lateral directions, stabilization by covariation was highest for CoM position relative to the front foot,... (More)
We investigated motor-equivalent stabilization of task-related variables (TRV) at times of heel strike in eight healthy young men (23-30 years) who walked on a motorized treadmill at self-selected and prescribed speeds within the normal walking speed range. The TRV consisted of step parameters (step length and width) and the center of mass (CoM) position relative to the support (back and front feet). Motor-equivalent stabilization of the TRV was assessed using a decorrelation technique, comparing empirical to decorrelated (covariation-free) variability. Analysis indicated reliable covariation for all TRV. In both the fore-aft and lateral directions, stabilization by covariation was highest for CoM position relative to the front foot, indicating a prioritization of equilibrium-related variables. Correlations among TRV revealed that the relation between CoM and step parameter control differed between the fore-aft and lateral directions. While stabilization of lateral foot position appears to be due to control of CoM relative to each foot, step length showed small, but reliable, stabilization beyond CoM stabilization, which may be related to spatiotemporal regularity of the step pattern. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
coordination, Equilibrium, Gait variability, Covariation by randomization, Movement
in
Experimental Brain Research
volume
207
issue
1-2
pages
13 - 26
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000283572400002
  • scopus:78149313473
  • pmid:20862457
ISSN
0014-4819
DOI
10.1007/s00221-010-2424-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
afce04ea-bc42-41c3-a193-012810e85f16 (old id 1719710)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:06:09
date last changed
2022-03-04 08:06:48
@article{afce04ea-bc42-41c3-a193-012810e85f16,
  abstract     = {{We investigated motor-equivalent stabilization of task-related variables (TRV) at times of heel strike in eight healthy young men (23-30 years) who walked on a motorized treadmill at self-selected and prescribed speeds within the normal walking speed range. The TRV consisted of step parameters (step length and width) and the center of mass (CoM) position relative to the support (back and front feet). Motor-equivalent stabilization of the TRV was assessed using a decorrelation technique, comparing empirical to decorrelated (covariation-free) variability. Analysis indicated reliable covariation for all TRV. In both the fore-aft and lateral directions, stabilization by covariation was highest for CoM position relative to the front foot, indicating a prioritization of equilibrium-related variables. Correlations among TRV revealed that the relation between CoM and step parameter control differed between the fore-aft and lateral directions. While stabilization of lateral foot position appears to be due to control of CoM relative to each foot, step length showed small, but reliable, stabilization beyond CoM stabilization, which may be related to spatiotemporal regularity of the step pattern.}},
  author       = {{Verrel, Julius and Lövdén, Martin and Lindenberger, Ulman}},
  issn         = {{0014-4819}},
  keywords     = {{coordination; Equilibrium; Gait variability; Covariation by randomization; Movement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{13--26}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Experimental Brain Research}},
  title        = {{Motor-equivalent covariation stabilizes step parameters and center of mass position during treadmill walking}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-010-2424-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00221-010-2424-y}},
  volume       = {{207}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}