Facial reconstruction

Search LJMU Research Online

Browse Repository | Browse E-Theses

Human walking biomechanics on sand substrates of varying foot sinking depth

Grant, BF, Charles, JP, D'Août, K, Falkingham, PL and Bates, KT (2024) Human walking biomechanics on sand substrates of varying foot sinking depth. Journal of Experimental Biology. ISSN 0022-0949

[img]
Preview
Text
jeb246787.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Our current understanding of human gait is mostly based on studies using hard, level surfaces in a laboratory environment. However, humans navigate a wide range of different substrates every day, which incur varied demands on stability and efficiency. Several studies have shown that when walking on natural compliant substrates there is an increase in energy expenditure. However, these studies report variable changes to other aspects of gait such as muscle activity. Discrepancies between studies exist even within substrate types (e.g. sand), which suggests that relatively ‘fine-scale’ differences in substrate properties exert quantifiable influences on gait mechanics. In this study, we compare human walking mechanics on a range of sand substrates that vary in overall foot sinking depth. We demonstrate that variation in the overall sinking depth in sand is associated with statistically significant changes in joint angles and spatiotemporal variables in human walking but exerts relatively little influence on pendular energy recovery and muscle activations. Significant correlated changes between gait metrics are frequently recovered, suggesting a degree of coupled or mechanistic interaction in their variation within and across substrates. However, only walking speed (and its associated spatiotemporal variables) correlate frequently with absolute foot sinkage depth within individual sand substrates, but not across them. This suggests a causative relationship between walking speed and foot sinkage depth within individual sand substates is not coupled with systematic changes in joint kinematics and muscle activity in the same way as is observed across sand substrates.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 06 Biological Sciences; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; Physiology
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Q Science > QM Human anatomy
Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions: Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher: The Company of Biologists
SWORD Depositor: A Symplectic
Date Deposited: 16 Sep 2024 09:54
Last Modified: 16 Sep 2024 09:54
DOI or ID number: 10.1242/jeb.246787
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/24141
View Item View Item