Influence of Treadmill Velocity on Gait Characteristics – Case Study of a Patient with Ankle Instability

Abstract

The paper proposes a treadmill-based gait study in three particular cases of walking velocity. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of extended gait analysis on a treadmill in relation to the treadmill velocity. The measurements were realized using Zebris measuring system CMS-HS and a commercially available Hammer Walkrunner Pro Treadmill. One young volunteer (male, 24 years old) with mild instability of left ankle was involved in the study. To evaluate the spatiotemporal and kinematical parameters, the investigated subject performed treadmill-based gait with three velocities. The main spatiotemporal parameters which have been analyzed are stride time, cadence, double support time, and velocity. The gait symmetry was also analyzed based on the symmetry of the swing and stance phases between the lower limbs and pelvis obliquity. The studied kinematical parameters were the flexion-extension angles of the hip and knee joint, and dorsi- plantar flexion of the ankle joint. We concluded that higher velocity leads to a lower variability of the gait parameters, while accurate recordings and interpretations of the human gait are achieved when the subject is waking with lower velocity closer to his normal walking speed.