Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?

A change in cadence during walking or running might be indicated for a variety of reasons, among which mobility improvement and injury prevention. In a within-subject study design, we examined whether walking or running cadences are modulated best by means of step-based or stride-based auditory paci...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anouk Nijs, Melvyn Roerdink, Peter J. Beek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/273
_version_ 1827717615452160000
author Anouk Nijs
Melvyn Roerdink
Peter J. Beek
author_facet Anouk Nijs
Melvyn Roerdink
Peter J. Beek
author_sort Anouk Nijs
collection DOAJ
description A change in cadence during walking or running might be indicated for a variety of reasons, among which mobility improvement and injury prevention. In a within-subject study design, we examined whether walking or running cadences are modulated best by means of step-based or stride-based auditory pacing. Sixteen experienced runners walked and ran on a treadmill while synchronizing with step-based and stride-based pacing at slow, preferred and fast pacing frequencies in synchronization-perturbation and synchronization-continuation conditions. We quantified the variability of the relative phase between pacing cues and footfalls and the responses to perturbations in the pacing signal as measures of coordinative stability; the more stable the auditory-motor coordination, the stronger the modulating effect of pacing. Furthermore, we quantified the deviation from the prescribed cadence after removal of the pacing signal as a measure of internalization of this cadence. Synchronization was achieved less often in running, especially at slow pacing frequencies. If synchronization was achieved, coordinative stability was similar, and the paced cadence was well internalized for preferred and fast pacing frequencies. Step-based pacing led to more stable auditory-motor coordination than stride-based pacing in both walking and running. We therefore concluded that step-based auditory pacing deserves preference as a means to modulate cadence in walking and running.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T20:05:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dffed22731714ca191db113f55985d9f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3425
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T20:05:57Z
publishDate 2020-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Brain Sciences
spelling doaj.art-dffed22731714ca191db113f55985d9f2023-11-19T23:18:06ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252020-05-0110527310.3390/brainsci10050273Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?Anouk Nijs0Melvyn Roerdink1Peter J. Beek2Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFaculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsFaculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, van der Boechorststraat 7-9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsA change in cadence during walking or running might be indicated for a variety of reasons, among which mobility improvement and injury prevention. In a within-subject study design, we examined whether walking or running cadences are modulated best by means of step-based or stride-based auditory pacing. Sixteen experienced runners walked and ran on a treadmill while synchronizing with step-based and stride-based pacing at slow, preferred and fast pacing frequencies in synchronization-perturbation and synchronization-continuation conditions. We quantified the variability of the relative phase between pacing cues and footfalls and the responses to perturbations in the pacing signal as measures of coordinative stability; the more stable the auditory-motor coordination, the stronger the modulating effect of pacing. Furthermore, we quantified the deviation from the prescribed cadence after removal of the pacing signal as a measure of internalization of this cadence. Synchronization was achieved less often in running, especially at slow pacing frequencies. If synchronization was achieved, coordinative stability was similar, and the paced cadence was well internalized for preferred and fast pacing frequencies. Step-based pacing led to more stable auditory-motor coordination than stride-based pacing in both walking and running. We therefore concluded that step-based auditory pacing deserves preference as a means to modulate cadence in walking and running.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/273acoustic pacingcadenceperturbationsrelative phasesensorimotor synchronizationcoordinative stability
spellingShingle Anouk Nijs
Melvyn Roerdink
Peter J. Beek
Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
Brain Sciences
acoustic pacing
cadence
perturbations
relative phase
sensorimotor synchronization
coordinative stability
title Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
title_full Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
title_fullStr Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
title_full_unstemmed Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
title_short Cadence Modulation in Walking and Running: Pacing Steps or Strides?
title_sort cadence modulation in walking and running pacing steps or strides
topic acoustic pacing
cadence
perturbations
relative phase
sensorimotor synchronization
coordinative stability
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/5/273
work_keys_str_mv AT anouknijs cadencemodulationinwalkingandrunningpacingstepsorstrides
AT melvynroerdink cadencemodulationinwalkingandrunningpacingstepsorstrides
AT peterjbeek cadencemodulationinwalkingandrunningpacingstepsorstrides