Biomechanical changes to human locomotion due to asymmetric loading of the legs

The biomechanics of lower limb locomotion is a yet unknown mixture of neurological control and physical parameters. The current study explored attaching a rehabilitative anklebot to subjects walking on a treadmill and observed duration, kinematic, and electromyography data to determine the biomechanical response to the asymmetric loading. The present report identified various gait cycle parameters that changed as a response to the asymmetric loading. Notably, significant differences in the stride time of the legs occurred under loading, while contralateral stride times also adjusted to remain equal to those of the loaded legs. Symmetry index analysis led to the conclusion that, while the asymmetric loading of the lower limbs had some effects on temporal gait parameters, the body adjusted to minimize any temporal asymmetry. However, goniometer data demonstrated kinematic changes in response to loading as knee flexion peaked earlier in the gait cycle.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• McDougal, Wesley D

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Neville Hogan.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/75667

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/75667