Gait on slopes: Differences in temporo-spatial, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters between walking on a ramp and on a treadmill

Gerda Strutzenberger; Lara Leutgeb; Lisa Claußen; Hermann Schwameder

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.196

Gait on slopes: Differences in temporo-spatial, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters between walking on a ramp and on a treadmill

Gait Posture. 2022 Jan:91:73-78. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.196. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Authors

Gerda Strutzenberger¹, Lara Leutgeb², Lisa Claußen³, Hermann Schwameder⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Schlossalee 49, 5400, Hallein-Rif, Salzburg, Austria; Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Forchstraße 345, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland; Motion Analysis Zurich, Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Children's Hospital, University of Zurich, Forchstraße 345, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Gerda.strutzenberger@sbg.ac.at.
² Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Schlossalee 49, 5400, Hallein-Rif, Salzburg, Austria. Electronic address: Lara.leutgeb@sbg.ac.at.
³ Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Schlossalee 49, 5400, Hallein-Rif, Salzburg, Austria; Institute of Sports and Sport Science, University of Kassel, Damaschkestraße 25, 34121, Kassel, Hesse, Germany. Electronic address: lisa.claussen@uni-kassel.de.
⁴ Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Schlossalee 49, 5400, Hallein-Rif, Salzburg, Austria. Electronic address: Hermann.Schwameder@sbg.ac.at.

PMID: 34653877
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.196

Abstract

Background: Inclined treadmills or static ramp constructions can be used to investigate downhill gait in a standardised laboratory condition. There is a lack of information how the gait patterns are affected when walking on a ramp or an inclined treadmill during uphill and downhill walking.

Research question: Is there a difference in temporo-spatial parameters, sagittal ankle, knee and hip joint angle as well as ground reaction force when walking uphill and downhill on a ramp and a treadmill.

Methods: Uphill and downhill gait of 15 healthy participants was assessed during walking on a treadmill and on a ramp with slope gradients of 12 °, 6 ° and 0 °. Participants were instructed to walk with the same speed on each slope-system. Kinematic and temporo-spatial paramters were collected using a 3D motion capture system (Qualisys, Gothenburgh, Sweden), kinetic data were collected using pressure insoles (loadsol®, Novel, Germany). Temporo-spatial parameters were analysed using a Friedman ANOVA, time series of kinematic and kinetic data were compared using statistical parametric mapping with a sigificance level of 5%.

Results: On the treadmill participants walked with significantly shorter steps and shorter contact times, while they significantly increased step frequency compared to walking on a ramp, regardless of slope gradient. In uphill conditions, treadmill gait increased hip and knee flexion angles during the stance phase and increased the forward tilt of the thorax during the entire gait cycle. During downhill walking a significant decrease in dorsiflexion during initial contact, midstance and the second half of the swing phase was observed. Peak resultant forces remained similar compared to walking on the ramp. These alterations might be due to mechanical and psychological effects.

Significance: Knowledge about these differences is important in future study design and data interpretation from existing literature.

Keywords: Gait analysis; Gait on slopes; Gradient; Ramp; Treadmill.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Exercise Test
Gait*
Humans
Kinetics
Walking*