Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-7-2019
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of a feedback-controlled treadmill (FeedbackTM) to a traditional fixed-speed treadmill (FixedTM) on spatiotemporal gait means, variability, and dynamics. The study also examined inter-session reliability when using the FeedbackTM. Ten young adults walked on the FeedbackTM for a 5-minute familiarization followed by a 16-minute experimental trial. They returned within one week and completed a 5-minute familiarization followed by a 16-minute experimental trial each for FeedbackTM and FixedTM conditions. Mean walking speed and step time, length, width, and speed means and coefficient of variation were calculated from all experimental conditions. Step time, length, width, and speed gait dynamics were analyzed using detrended fluctuation analysis. Mean differences between experimental trials were determined using ANOVAs and reliability between FeedbackTM sessions was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient. No difference was found in mean walking speed nor spatiotemporal variables, with the exception of step width, between the experimental trials. All mean spatiotemporal variables demonstrated good to excellent reliability between sessions, while coefficient of variation was not reliable. Gait dynamics of step time, length, width, and speed were significantly more persistent during the FeedbackTM condition compared to FixedTM, especially step speed. However, gait dynamics demonstrated fair to poor reliability between FeedbackTM sessions. When walking on the FeedbackTM, users maintain a consistent set point, yet the gait dynamics around the mean are different when compared to walking on a FixedTM. In addition, spatiotemporal gait dynamics and variability may not be consistent across separate days when using the FeedbackTM.
Journal Title
Journal of Biomechanics
Volume
83
Issue
23
First Page
221
Last Page
226
Recommended Citation
Weins, C, Denton, W, Schieber, MN, Hartley, R, Marmelat, V, Myers, SA, Yentes, JM. Walking speed and spatiotemporal step mean measures are reliable during feedback-controlled treadmill walking; however spatiotemporal step variability is not reliable. Journal of Biomechanics. 2018 Jan 23; 83-211-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.11.051
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Journal of Biomechanics on January 7, 2019, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.11.051