PHYSICS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN LOCOMOTION: INVESTIGATING THE MECHANICS OF WALKING PATTERNS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2024.12.4.1352Keywords:
Biomechanics, gait parameters, kinematic, dynamics, genderAbstract
This study investigated the gait metric differences between males and females aged 18 to 22. Our investigation revealed some significant changes in gait metrics between the two genders. Firstly, males exhibited greater leg and step lengths than females. Males exhibited wider strides, suggesting typical anthropometric variations. Except for BMI and cadence, males had more variation in practically every other gait metric, whereas females had more variability.
There was a non-significant positive connection between BMI and gait metrics such as height, stride length, and step width, with BMI having a minor effect on those measures. Overall, both genders showed a distinct pattern of variability, revealing individual variances in gait analysis across the same genders.
A direct correlation was observed between the Froude number and height, indicating that individuals with a higher Froude number exhibit a more dynamic and faster walking style. This phenomenon can be ascribed to the biomechanical superiority that taller individuals may possess, enabling them to generate longer strides and achieve higher speeds.
A thorough study of walking speed and gait parameters revealed difficulty in finding the right balance between stability, efficiency, and speed in human movement. Understanding these connections will help people develop more efficient training programs, assistive technologies, and more efficient and safe walking in general.
References
Ahad, M. A. R., Ngo, T. T., Antar, A. Das, Ahmed, M., Hossain, T., Muramatsu, D., Makihara, Y., Inoue, S., & Yagi, Y. (2020). Wearable sensor-based gait analysis for age and gender estimation. Sensors (Switzerland), 20(8), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20082424
Al-Makhalas, A., Abualait, T., Ahsan, M., Abdulaziz, S., & Muslem, W. Al. (2023). A gender based comparison and correlation of spatiotemporal gait parameters and postural stability. Acta Biomedica, 94(2). https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v94i2.13602
Ängeby Möller, K., Svärd, H., Suominen, A., Immonen, J., Holappa, J., & Stenfors, C. (2018). Gait analysis and weight bearing in pre-clinical joint pain research. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 300, 92–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.04.011
Basheer M. ameen, R. (2024). Quantifying the Impact of Running Cadence on Biomechanics, Performance, and Injury Risk: a Physics-Based Analysis. Science Journal of University of Zakho, 12(2), 237–243. https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2024.12.2.1233
Błaszczyk, J. W., Plewa, M., Cieślińska-Świder, J., Bacik, B., Zahorska-Markiewicz, B., & Markiewicz, A. (2011). Impact of excess body weight on walking at the preferred speed. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 71(4), 528–540. https://doi.org/10.55782/ane-2011-1869
Bohannon, R. W. (1997). Comfortable and maximum walking speed of adults aged 20-79 years: Reference values and determinants. Age and Ageing, 26(1), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/26.1.15
Boonstra, A. M., Fidler, V., & Eisma, W. H. (1993). Walking speed of normal subjects and amputees: Aspects of validity of gait analysis. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 17(2), 78–82. https://doi.org/10.3109/03093649309164360
Castellini, J. L. A., Grande Ratti, M. F., & Chan, D. M. (2023). Age, Gender, Body Mass Index, and Foot Loading During Gait. Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/24730114231198524
Chumanov, E. S., Wall-Scheffler, C., & Heiderscheit, B. C. (2008). Gender differences in walking and running on level and inclined surfaces. Clinical Biomechanics, 23(10), 1260–1268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2008.07.011
Donelan, J. M., & Kram, R. (2000). Exploring dynamic similarity in human running using simulated reduced gravity. Journal of Experimental Biology, 203(16), 2405–2415. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.203.16.2405
Espinoza-Araneda, J., Bravo-Carrasco, V., Álvarez, C., Marzuca-Nassr, G. N., Muñoz-Mendoza, C. L., Muñoz, J., & Caparrós-Manosalva, C. (2022). Postural Balance and Gait Parameters of Independent Older Adults: A Sex Difference Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074064
Fan, Y., Zhang, B., Huang, G., Zhang, G., Ding, Z., Li, Z., Sinclair, J., & Fan, Y. (2022). Sarcopenia: Body Composition and Gait Analysis. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14(July), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.909551
Hell, A. K., Braunschweig, L., Grages, B., Brunner, R., & Romkes, J. (2021). The influence of backpack weight in school children: gait, muscle activity, posture and stability. Orthopade, 50(6), 446–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00132-020-04047-8
Herssens, N., van Criekinge, T., Saeys, W., Truijen, S., Vereeck, L., van Rompaey, V., & Hallemans, A. (2020). An investigation of the spatio-temporal parameters of gait and margins of stability throughout adulthood. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 17(166). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0194
Kirtley, C. (2006). Clinical Gait Analysis. Theory and Practice-Churchill Livingstone. In Elsevier’s Health Sciences Rights. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&docId=26347764
Patricia M. McAndrew Young, and J. B. D. (2013). Voluntarily Changing Step Length or Step Width Affects Dynamic Stability of Human Walking Patricia. PMC, 35(3), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.11.010.Voluntarily
Rosso, V., Agostini, V., Takeda, R., Tadano, S., & Gastaldi, L. (2019). Influence of BMI on gait characteristics of young adults: 3D evaluation using inertial sensors. Sensors (Switzerland), 19(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/s19194221
Wolff, C., Steinheimer, P., Warmerdam, E., Dahmen, T., Slusallek, P., Schlinkmann, C., Chen, F., Orth, M., Pohlemann, T., & Ganse, B. (2023). Effects of age, body height, body weight, body mass index and handgrip strength on the trajectory of the plantar pressure stance-phase curve of the gait cycle. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11(February), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1110099
Yu, J.-S., Zhuang, C., Guo, W.-X., Chen, J.-J., Wu, X.-K., Xie, W., Zhou, X., Su, H., Chen, Y.-X., Wang, L.-K., Li, W.-K., Tian, K., & Zhuang, R.-J. (2023). Reference values of gait parameters in healthy Chinese university students: A cross-sectional observational study. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 11(29), 7061–7074. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v11.i29.7061
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Rayan Basheer M. Ameen , Dilveen W. Mohammed , James Bowen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work, with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online.
