Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects

How to achieve stable locomotion while overcoming various instabilities is an ongoing research topic. One essential factor for achieving a stable gait is controlling the center of body mass (CoM). The CoM yields more instability in the mediolateral direction. Examining speed-dependent modulations of...

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Main Authors: Ken Takiyama, Hikaru Yokoyama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1304141/full
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author Ken Takiyama
Hikaru Yokoyama
author_facet Ken Takiyama
Hikaru Yokoyama
author_sort Ken Takiyama
collection DOAJ
description How to achieve stable locomotion while overcoming various instabilities is an ongoing research topic. One essential factor for achieving a stable gait is controlling the center of body mass (CoM). The CoM yields more instability in the mediolateral direction. Examining speed-dependent modulations of the CoM trajectories in the frontal plane can provide insight into control policies for achieving stable locomotion. Although these modulations have been studied while assuming symmetric CoM trajectories, this assumption is generally incorrect. For example, amputee subjects demonstrate asymmetric CoM trajectories. Here, we investigated speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric CoM trajectories in above-knee amputee subjects using Fourier series expansion. Despite the asymmetric CoM trajectories in amputee subjects, the framework of Fourier series expansion clarified that amputee subjects showed the same speed-dependent modulations as non-amputee subjects whose CoM trajectories were symmetric. Specifically, CoM trajectories became narrower in the mediolateral direction and broader in the superoinferior direction as walking speed increased. The speed-dependent modulations of CoM trajectories had a functional role in improving dynamic stability, and faster walking speeds provided greater dynamic stability on both prosthetic and non-prosthetic sides. Although the asymmetry of foot contact duration and CoM trajectory decreased as walking speed increased, step width and the asymmetry of dynamic stability between prosthetic and non-prosthetic sides remained constant across the walking speed, which corresponded to the predictions by our framework. These findings could offer a better strategy for achieving stable walking for amputee subjects.
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spelling doaj.art-6933d6c604884eb6b4ae52bd28c730002024-01-04T04:23:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-01-01510.3389/fspor.2023.13041411304141Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjectsKen Takiyama0Hikaru Yokoyama1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, JapanDivision of Advanced Health Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, JapanHow to achieve stable locomotion while overcoming various instabilities is an ongoing research topic. One essential factor for achieving a stable gait is controlling the center of body mass (CoM). The CoM yields more instability in the mediolateral direction. Examining speed-dependent modulations of the CoM trajectories in the frontal plane can provide insight into control policies for achieving stable locomotion. Although these modulations have been studied while assuming symmetric CoM trajectories, this assumption is generally incorrect. For example, amputee subjects demonstrate asymmetric CoM trajectories. Here, we investigated speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric CoM trajectories in above-knee amputee subjects using Fourier series expansion. Despite the asymmetric CoM trajectories in amputee subjects, the framework of Fourier series expansion clarified that amputee subjects showed the same speed-dependent modulations as non-amputee subjects whose CoM trajectories were symmetric. Specifically, CoM trajectories became narrower in the mediolateral direction and broader in the superoinferior direction as walking speed increased. The speed-dependent modulations of CoM trajectories had a functional role in improving dynamic stability, and faster walking speeds provided greater dynamic stability on both prosthetic and non-prosthetic sides. Although the asymmetry of foot contact duration and CoM trajectory decreased as walking speed increased, step width and the asymmetry of dynamic stability between prosthetic and non-prosthetic sides remained constant across the walking speed, which corresponded to the predictions by our framework. These findings could offer a better strategy for achieving stable walking for amputee subjects.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1304141/fullFourier series expansiondynamic stabilitymargin of stability (MoS)microprocessor-controlled kneeextrapolated center of mass
spellingShingle Ken Takiyama
Hikaru Yokoyama
Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Fourier series expansion
dynamic stability
margin of stability (MoS)
microprocessor-controlled knee
extrapolated center of mass
title Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
title_full Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
title_fullStr Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
title_full_unstemmed Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
title_short Speed-dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above-knee amputee subjects
title_sort speed dependent modulations of asymmetric center of body mass trajectory in the gait of above knee amputee subjects
topic Fourier series expansion
dynamic stability
margin of stability (MoS)
microprocessor-controlled knee
extrapolated center of mass
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1304141/full
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