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Familiarization with treadmill walking: How much is enough?

Scientific reports
January 1, 1970
Christian Meyer et al. (8 authors)
Clinical TrialJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the minimum acclimatization time required for stable treadmill walking performance and assess differences in adaptation between older and treadmill-naïve adults.

Results Summary

The study found that 16 out of 26 walking parameters required 6-7 minutes (425 strides) of treadmill acclimatization to stabilize, while 10 parameters remained stable. Older and treadmill-naïve participants showed higher adaptation amplitudes but similar stabilization times.

Population

40 healthy adults, including older individuals and those naïve to treadmill walking.

Effective Dosage

Not applicable

Duration

10 minutes

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
treadmill walking
no change
16 walking parameters
healthy adults
-
demonstrated initial acclimatization followed by plateau performance
#1
treadmill walking
no change
ten parameters
healthy adults
-
remained stable
#2
treadmill walking
increase
distal lower limb control including ankle range of motion, toe trajectory and foot clearance
healthy adults
-
underwent substantial adaptations
#3
treadmill walking
increase
intralimb coordination and gait variability
healthy adults
-
demonstrated acclimatization
#4
treadmill walking
no change
measures of symmetry and interlimb coordination
healthy adults
-
did not demonstrate acclimatization
#5
treadmill walking
no change
All parameters
healthy adults
within 6-7 minutes (425 strides)
exhibiting a plateau after acclimatization
#6
treadmill walking
increase
adaptations
older participants and those naïve to treadmill walking
-
showed adaptations with higher amplitudes
#7
treadmill walking
no change
adaptations
older participants and those naïve to treadmill walking
-
showed adaptations over similar timescales
#8
Abstract

Treadmill-based gait analysis is widely used to investigate walking pathologies and quantify treatment effects on locomotion. Differential sensorimotor conditions during overground vs. treadmill walking necessitate initial familiarization to treadmill walking. Currently, there is no standardized treadmill acclimatization protocol and insufficient familiarization potentially confounds analyses. We monitored initial adaptations to treadmill walking in 40 healthy adults. Twenty-six walking parameters were assessed over 10 minutes with marker-based kinematic analysis and acclimatization profiles were generated. While 16 walking parameters demonstrated initial acclimatization followed by plateau performance, ten parameters remained stable. Distal lower limb control including ankle range of motion, toe trajectory and foot clearance underwent substantial adaptations. Moreover, intralimb coordination and gait variability also demonstrated acclimatization, while measures of symmetry and interlimb coordination did not. All parameters exhibiting a plateau after acclimatization did so within 6-7 minutes (425 strides). Older participants and those naïve to treadmill walking showed adaptations with higher amplitudes but over similar timescales. Our results suggest a minimum of 6 minutes treadmill acclimatization is required to reach a stable performance, and that this should suffice for both older and naïve healthy adults. The presented data aids in optimizing treadmill-based gait analysis and contributes to improving locomotor assessments in research and clinical settings.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PhysiologicalAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomechanical PhenomenaExercise TestFemaleFootGaitHumansMaleMiddle AgedRange of Motion, ArticularWalking
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations93
Citations/Year15.5
Relative Citation Ratio9.82
NIH Percentile97.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.09
Normalized Score0.72
Related Supplements
Familiarization with treadmill walking: How much is enough? | Panacea Index