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Modulation of head movement control in humans during treadmill walkingThe purpose of this study was to investigate the coordination of the head relative to the trunk within a gait cycle during gaze fixation. Nine normal subjects walked on a motorized treadmill driven at 1.79 m/s (20 s trials) while fixing their gaze on a centrally located earth-fixed target positioned at a distance of 2 m from their eyes. The net and relative angular motions of the head about the three axes of rotations, as well as the corresponding values for the moments acting on it relative to the trunk during the gait cycle were quantified and used as measures of coordination. The average net moment, as well as the average moments about the different axes were significantly different (P<0.01) between the high impact and low/no impact phases of the gait cycle. However, the average net angular displacement as well as the average angular displacement about the axial rotation axis of the head relative to the trunk was maintained uniform (P>0.01) throughout the gait cycle. The average angular displacement about the lateral bending axis was significantly increased (P<0.01) during the high impact phase while that about the flexion-extension axis was significantly decreased (P<0.01) throughout the gait cycle. Thus, the coordination of the motion of the head relative to the trunk during walking is dynamically modulated depending on the behavioral events occurring in the gait cycle. This modulation may serve to aid stabilization of the head by counteracting the force variations acting on the upper body that may aid in the visual fixation of targets during walking.
Document ID
20040087982
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mulavara, Ajitkumar P.
(Neuroscience Laboratories, Wyle Laboratories Houston, TX 77058, United States)
Verstraete, Mary C.
Bloomberg, Jacob J.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Gait & posture
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0966-6362
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Clinical Trial
NASA Center JSC
NASA Discipline Neuroscience

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