Presenter Information

Ryan HartleyFollow

Advisor Information

Vivien Marmelat

Location

Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library

Presentation Type

Poster

Start Date

3-3-2017 9:00 AM

End Date

3-3-2017 10:15 AM

Abstract

Because treadmills are set at a fixed speed, they constrain subjects to walk differently than walking while overground, where subjects can speed up or slow down. To help alleviate this constraint, an algorithm has been developed that allows the treadmill to change speed according to the subject’s movement. The purpose of this study was to compare self-paced, fixed speed, and overground walking. We hypothesize the walking patterns of the subjects during self-paced walking will be different from fixed speed conditions and more similar to overground. Subjects will complete three 15 minute walking conditions consisting of self-paced, fixed speed, and overground trials. Stride-to-stride dynamics were estimated using the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), while the average and the coefficient of variation (CV) of stride-time intervals were also analyzed. Our results indicate that self-paced treadmill walking seems to be more stable than fixed speed treadmill walking, as suggested by similar CV for both conditions. However, stride-time dynamics on the self-paced treadmill indicates more similarity to overground walking.

COinS
 
Mar 3rd, 9:00 AM Mar 3rd, 10:15 AM

Comparison of Self-Paced, Fixed Speed, and Overground Walking

Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library

Because treadmills are set at a fixed speed, they constrain subjects to walk differently than walking while overground, where subjects can speed up or slow down. To help alleviate this constraint, an algorithm has been developed that allows the treadmill to change speed according to the subject’s movement. The purpose of this study was to compare self-paced, fixed speed, and overground walking. We hypothesize the walking patterns of the subjects during self-paced walking will be different from fixed speed conditions and more similar to overground. Subjects will complete three 15 minute walking conditions consisting of self-paced, fixed speed, and overground trials. Stride-to-stride dynamics were estimated using the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), while the average and the coefficient of variation (CV) of stride-time intervals were also analyzed. Our results indicate that self-paced treadmill walking seems to be more stable than fixed speed treadmill walking, as suggested by similar CV for both conditions. However, stride-time dynamics on the self-paced treadmill indicates more similarity to overground walking.