The effect of obstacle height and maximum step length (MSL) on obstacle crossing in healthy adults

• Park Sang-Joon

  <i>Physical Education and Medicine Research Foundation</i>

• Otaka Yohei

  <i>Tokyo bay Rehabilitation Hospital</i>

• Okada Shinpei

  <i>Physical Education and Medicine Research Foundation</i>

• Kamioka Hiroharu

  <i>Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture</i>

• Okuizumi Hiroyasu

  <i>Tomi City Hot Spring Clinic</i>

• Komatu Taiki

  <i>School of Health Science Department of Physical Therapy Tokyo University of Technology</i>

• Mutoh Yoshiteru

  <i>Todai Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo</i>

Abstract

In this study, we investigated whether subjects with a Lower Maximum Step Length (MSL) Percentage (LMP) display unstable locomotion while negotiating an obstacle. Data were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The toe-obstacle clearance of the leading limb was monitored in 10 young adults while stepping over three height obstacles from 30%, 40% and 50% of MSL. The vertical clearance at the time of the obstacle crossing decreased systematically with more complicated experimental set up. In particular, subjects with LMP showed smaller clearances than subjects with a Higher Maximum step length Percentage (HMP). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the toe-obstacle clearance and MSL. The mean of variance value of toe-obstacle clearance of the leading limb differed between the subjects with LMP and those with HMP. Our findings help to explain the relation of MSL and gait adaption ability to negotiate obstacles safely during obstacles crossing.

Journal

• Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine

  Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 61 (1), 103-109, 2012

  The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine

Keywords

• obstacle height
• obstacle distance
• maximum step length (MSL)
• toe-obstacle clearance
• mean of variance value of toe-obstacle clearance

Details

• CRID: 1390282679899107840
• NII Article ID: 130004496083
• NII Article ID: 10030140040
• NII Book ID: AN00137986
• DOI: 10.7600/jspfsm.61.103
• ISSN: 18814751
• ISSN: 0039906X
• NDL BIB ID: 023513859
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I023513859
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jspfsm/61/1/61_1_103/_pdf
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2012356011
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed