Lower limb biomechanics and control of center of mass during turning phases in daily gait

Riku Kawabata; Moeka Yokoyama; Yuka Matsumoto; Keisuke Kubota; Sachiko Kosuge; Yasuyo Sunaga; Naohiko Kanemura

doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102959

Lower limb biomechanics and control of center of mass during turning phases in daily gait

J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2024 Nov 24:80:102959. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102959. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Riku Kawabata¹, Moeka Yokoyama², Yuka Matsumoto³, Keisuke Kubota⁴, Sachiko Kosuge⁵, Yasuyo Sunaga⁶, Naohiko Kanemura⁵

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi 466-8550, Japan; Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan; Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
³ Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
⁴ Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan; Research Development Center, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan.
⁵ Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan.
⁶ Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan.

PMID: 39612741
DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102959

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate the biomechanical characteristics of turning in daily life by analyzing the three-step process of approach, turn, and departure phases. The research involved ten healthy young individuals performing straight walking and 90° turns, categorized into Side-Step (SS) and Cross-Step (CS) turns. Using a 17-camera motion capture system and force plates, the study measured joint angles, moments, and center of mass (COM) variations. The results indicated that turning involves rotational movements of the lower limbs across three phases, with distinct biomechanical roles for each step. From the perspective of COM control, instability increased at the departure foot in SS, while in CS, stability was maintained at both the approach and departure foot. This study emphasized the importance of rotational movements and rotational forces in the lower limb joints during turning. It also revealed that the center of mass is controlled across three steps. These findings highlight the need for a comprehensive analysis of turning and add a new perspective to gait analysis during turning.

Keywords: Biomechanics; COM; Gait; Lower limb; Turning.