RESUMO
It has been proposed that the highly reproducible forward walking (FW) locomotor pattern is generated by a central neuronal program or central pattern generator (CPG) which provides the underlying mechanism which produces the coordinated walking movement. The purpose of this study was to quantify the differences in the muscular activation patterns during FW and backward walking (BW) at a constant step frequency and to determine if common features exist across both locomotor conditions. The hypothesis was that FW and BW are both mediated by the same CPG; therefore, only small modifications in the CPG are required in order to produce the different characteristics of each walking mode. The results noted kinematically reversed patterns at the hip and ankle joints between FW and BW. The knee joint movement pattern was similar between conditions, however, a phase shift of 14.3% of the gait cycle occurred. An approximately 25% phase shift in the muscle activation patterns existed between FW and BW in four of the six muscles studied. Additionally, a pattern recognition technique was applied to the combined EMG signals to determine the minimum number of features required to generate the measured muscular output. Only two main features were necessary to produce the EMG patterns for both the FW and BW condition. The main features in FW were more consistent than noted in BW. The results support the notion that a single spinal mechanism such as a CPG with two main features appears to be in control during both FW and BW. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION:: No effective countermeasure for space-induced bone loss has yet been identified. It has been hypothesized that an effective exercise regimen would elicit loads on the lower extremity which resemble those encountered on Earth. Although a treadmill has been used on shuttle flights, the loads to which the lower extremity was exposed have not yet been quantified. It is believed that these loads are much less than the loads experienced in 1G. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of lower extremity loading during tethered treadmill exercise in a 0G environment. METHODS:: Data were collected on five subjects (avg. ht. 177.3+/-10.1 cm, avg. mass 78.3+/-18.0 kg) onboard the KC-135, a NASA airplane used to simulate periods of zero gravity through parabolic flight. Subjects ambulated at 4 speeds: a walk (1.56m/sec), fast walk (2.0m/sec) slow jog (2.75m/sec), and jog (3.35m/sec) on the NASA treadmill operated in either a passive or motorized mode. Each subject wore a harness connected to the Subject Load Device (SLD) to tether them to the treadmill. The tension in the SLD was subjectively adjusted for comfort by each subject. Force data were collected at 60 Hz using Pedar insoles. The number of parabolas per subject was variable due to motion sickness and hardware problems. RESULTS:: Analysis of the insole data showed that the average SLD load was only 35.2% BW, although the values ranged from 20.1% to 56.6%. Maximum ground reaction force values increased with increasing speed and were not affected by treadmill mode. The impulse was higher during walking with the treadmill in the passive mode than in the active mode, but this difference diminished with increasing speed. Subjects tended to run on their forefeet, as shown from the extremely small heel impulse values. At higher speeds, heel contact was absent, while forefoot impulse became more pronounced. DISCUSSION:: All force values were lower than those reported from 1G studies, where typical peak ground reaction forces are 1.2xBW and 2.5xBW for walking and running, respectively. At every speed, the ratio of the rearfoot to forefoot impulse was much lower than reported from 1G studies, and this ratio decreased with increasing speed. CONCLUSIONS:: If the exposure to forces similar to those in 1G is a requirement for countermeasures against space-induced osteoporosis, the loads in the SLD must be greatly increased and should be directly measured before exercise.
