Familiarization with treadmill walking: How much is enough?
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.