Abstract
Background
Although treadmill and overground walking appear to be biomechanically similar in
healthy, young adults it is not known whether this can be generalized to older subjects
or if the metabolic demands are correspondingly comparable.
Methods
Ten healthy adults between 50 and 73 years of age walked at the same speed overground
and on a treadmill. Temporal parameters, angular kinematics and vertical ground reaction
forces were recorded during walking once subjects were in steady state as determined
from their heart rate and oxygen uptake.
Findings
Step, stride and joint angular kinematics were similar for both modes of walking with
the exception of the maximum hip flexion and knee extension which were more pronounced
with treadmill or overground walking, respectively but in both instances differed
by less than 3°. Vertical ground reaction force profiles were similar although the
peak associated with push-off was 5.5% smaller with treadmill walking. The metabolic
requirements of treadmill walking were about 23% higher than that associated with
overground walking.
Interpretation
While treadmill and overground walking are biomechanically similar, the metabolic
cost of treadmill walking is higher. Clinically this may be important when using a
treadmill for gait retraining in patient populations as it may lead to premature fatigue
or undesirable physiologic challenge.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 31, 2008
Accepted:
July 16,
2008
Received:
February 12,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
