The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle

Running on a non-motorized, curved-deck treadmill is thought to improve gait mechanics. It is not known, though, whether the change in gait carries over to running on a motorized treadmill on level ground. To determine the effect of running on a curved non-motorized treadmill (CNT) on gait character...

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Main Authors: Andrew Hatchett, Kaitlyn Armstrong, Brian Parr, Mallory Crews, Charlie Tant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-06-01
Series:Sports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/6/3/58
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spelling doaj-1940e96492bd4f93b30f94c0750816fc2020-11-24T21:59:08ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632018-06-01635810.3390/sports6030058sports6030058The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride AngleAndrew Hatchett0Kaitlyn Armstrong1Brian Parr2Mallory Crews3Charlie Tant4Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USADepartment of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USADepartment of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USADepartment of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USADepartment of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USARunning on a non-motorized, curved-deck treadmill is thought to improve gait mechanics. It is not known, though, whether the change in gait carries over to running on a motorized treadmill on level ground. To determine the effect of running on a curved non-motorized treadmill (CNT) on gait characteristics, measured during a subsequent bout of running on a traditional motorized treadmill (TMT), sixteen healthy college-aged participants, aged (mean ± SD) 20.4 ± 1.6 years, volunteered to have their gait analyzed while running on a TMT and CNT. After familiarization with, and a warm-up on, both treadmills, each subject completed five 4-min bouts of running, alternating between traditional motorized and curved non-motorized treadmills: TMT-1, CNT-1, TMT-2, CNT-2, and TMT-3. Variables of interest included step length (m), stride length (m), imbalance score (%), and stride angle (°), and were measured using Optogait gait analysis equipment. We found differences in gait characteristics among TMT-1, TMT-2, and TMT-3, which can be attributed to running on the CNT. The results show that running on a CNT resulted in significant changes in gait characteristics (step length, stride length, imbalance score and stride angle). These findings suggest that running on a CNT can significantly influence running gait.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/6/3/58treadmillcurvedrunning gaitimbalancestride anglestride lengthstep length
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Andrew Hatchett
Kaitlyn Armstrong
Brian Parr
Mallory Crews
Charlie Tant
spellingShingle Andrew Hatchett
Kaitlyn Armstrong
Brian Parr
Mallory Crews
Charlie Tant
The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
Sports
treadmill
curved
running gait
imbalance
stride angle
stride length
step length
author_facet Andrew Hatchett
Kaitlyn Armstrong
Brian Parr
Mallory Crews
Charlie Tant
author_sort Andrew Hatchett
title The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
title_short The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
title_full The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
title_fullStr The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of a Curved Non-Motorized Treadmill on Running Gait Length, Imbalance and Stride Angle
title_sort effect of a curved non-motorized treadmill on running gait length, imbalance and stride angle
publisher MDPI AG
series Sports
issn 2075-4663
publishDate 2018-06-01
description Running on a non-motorized, curved-deck treadmill is thought to improve gait mechanics. It is not known, though, whether the change in gait carries over to running on a motorized treadmill on level ground. To determine the effect of running on a curved non-motorized treadmill (CNT) on gait characteristics, measured during a subsequent bout of running on a traditional motorized treadmill (TMT), sixteen healthy college-aged participants, aged (mean ± SD) 20.4 ± 1.6 years, volunteered to have their gait analyzed while running on a TMT and CNT. After familiarization with, and a warm-up on, both treadmills, each subject completed five 4-min bouts of running, alternating between traditional motorized and curved non-motorized treadmills: TMT-1, CNT-1, TMT-2, CNT-2, and TMT-3. Variables of interest included step length (m), stride length (m), imbalance score (%), and stride angle (°), and were measured using Optogait gait analysis equipment. We found differences in gait characteristics among TMT-1, TMT-2, and TMT-3, which can be attributed to running on the CNT. The results show that running on a CNT resulted in significant changes in gait characteristics (step length, stride length, imbalance score and stride angle). These findings suggest that running on a CNT can significantly influence running gait.
topic treadmill
curved
running gait
imbalance
stride angle
stride length
step length
url http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/6/3/58
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