Influence of walking speed on gait spatiotemporal parameters and the functional rockers of the foot in healthy adults

Abstract

Background: The gait cycle is generally divided into stance phase and swing phase. The stance phase can also be divided into three functional rockers, each with a distinct fulcrum. It has been shown that walking speed (WS) influences both stance and swing phase but its influence on the functional foot rockers duration is unknown. The aim of the study was to analyze the WS influence on functional foot rockers duration.

Methods: a cross-sectional study is completed with 99 healthy volunteers to assess the effect of WS on kinematics and foot rockers duration in treadmill walking at 4, 5, and 6 km·h^-1 RESULTS: Friedman test exhibited that all spatiotemporal variables and the length of the foot rockers changed significantly with WS (p < 0.05) except rocker 1 at 4 and 6 km·h^-1.

Conclusion: Every spatiotemporal parameter and the duration of the three functional rockers are affected by walking speed, although not all rockers are affected equally. The findings of this study reveal that Rocker 2 is the primary rocker whose duration is influenced by changes in gait speed.

Keywords: Gait; Heel-off; Stance phase; Velocity.