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Cited by 51Prosthetics and Rehabilitation RoboticsBalance, Gait, and Falls PreventionLower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies

Comparing two devices of suspended treadmill walking by varying body unloading and Froude number

Ruckstuhl, Heidi, Kho, Jenniefer, Weed, Matthew, Wilkinson, Miles W., Hargens, Alan R.·2009·Gait & Posture
DOI 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.07.001
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Abstract

In rehabilitation, treadmill walking with body weight support is commonly used to reduce loads on lower extremities. (1) However, gait pattern alterations during unloading at constant Froude number are infrequently reported. (2) Furthermore, differences between two common devices for unloading are not well known. Therefore, we investigated two devices; a waist-high chamber with increased pressure called Lower Body Positive Pressure (LBPP), and a harness system (LiteGait), considered a standard system for unloading the lower body. Four gait parameters (cadence, normalized stride length, duty factor, and leg angle at touch down), heart rate, and comfort level were monitored in 12 healthy volunteers. Subjects walked at three body weight (BW) conditions (100%, 66%, and 33% BW) and three Froude numbers (Fr), which refer to a dimensionless speed reflecting slow walking (Fr=0.09), comfortable walking (Fr=0.25), and walk-run transition (Fr=0.5). Absolute treadmill speed was determined using Froude numbers reflecting dynamically similar motions during unloading. We found that (1) the normal gait pattern is altered during unloading at a constant Froude number. In rehabilitation, physical therapists should be aware that normal gait pattern may not need to be maintained during unloaded treadmill walking. (2) Gait parameters were not different when comparing LBPP to harness supported walking. However, heart rate was lower and comfort higher during unloaded LBPP ambulation compared to suspended harness walking. Therefore, suspended LBPP walking may be more appropriate for patients with cardiovascular disease and for conditions at high unloading.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.07.001

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  • The study of Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) fits the defined PICOS and its results are in agreement with findings of this systematic review.

    “Nevertheless, it fits with the defined PICOS and results are in agreement with findings of this systematic review.”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Ruckstuhl et al., 2009

  • Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) showed a significant increase in leg angle at touch down compared to terrestrial gravity.

    “For leg angle at touch down they showed a significant increase compared to terrestrial gravity.”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Ruckstuhl et al., 2009

  • Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) presented a significant reduction in normalized stride length for Martian gravity.

    “For Martian gravity, normalized stride length was not found in the present results but Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) presented a significant reduction in their results.”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Ruckstuhl et al., 2009

  • Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) found no significant differences between lower body positive pressure and vertical body weight support systems for gait parameters but did for heart rate.

    “Further, Ruckstuhl et al. (2009) compared lower body positive pressure and vertical body weight support systems and found no significant differences for the gait parameters but did for heart rate (Ruckstuhl et al., 2009).”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Ruckstuhl et al., 2009

  • In Ruckstuhl et al. (2009), heart rate, stride frequency and duty factor decreased significantly with decreasing gravity levels.

    “In their study, heart rate, stride frequency and duty factor decreased significantly with decreasing gravity levels.”

    From Human Biomechanical and Cardiopulmonary Responses to Partial Gravity – A Systematic Review (2017) · cites this paper as Ruckstuhl et al., 2009

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Authors
Ruckstuhl, H., Kho, J., Weed, M., Wilkinson, M. W., & Hargens, A. R.
Affiliations
University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Ruckstuhl, Heidi
ORCID
Hargens, Alan R.
Venue
Gait & Posture
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
30
Issue
4
Pages
446-451
ISSN
0966-6362 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.07.001
OpenAlex
W1984645934
Cited by
51
References
31
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Gait & Posture (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • San Francisco State University
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
  • University of California, San Diego
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000827)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
Keywords
body weight support, lower body positive pressure, Froude number, gait pattern, cadence, stride length, heart rate, pedestrian comfort, rehabilitation, cardiovascular disease
MeSH terms
Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Female, Gait, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Orthotic Devices, Pressure, Linear Models, Walking, Weight-Bearing

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