Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of mass load distribution on walking energetics and mechanics.Twelve healthy adults (23 ± 2 yrs) walked on a treadmill at 1.25 m/s with no load and an external load (5% of body weight).Loads were placed on different locations (foot, shank, thigh, waist, trunk and head) of the body.We determined walking energetics using indirect calorimetry during the last two minutes of each sixminute trial.In addition, walking mechanics were quantified for 10 strides of each trial.A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA, p<.05) was used to determine the statistical differences between load positions on net metabolic power and walking mechanics.Planned contrasts were used to determine the relative effect of upper versus lower body loading and no load versus loaded positions.Results showed that vertical load position had a significant effect on net metabolic power during walking (p=.001) but had no significant effect on spatiotemporal characteristics, stride kinematics, inverted pendulum recovery, or mechanical work (p>.05).Nonetheless, planned comparisons revealed that lower body mass loading elicited a significantly greater metabolic cost as compared to upper body loading (p=.001) with the greatest metabolic cost resulting from foot loading.Although vertical load position influences the metabolic cost of walking, it does not iii affect the mechanics of walking.These results suggest that other factors such as the cost of leg swing may explain the greater metabolic cost of lower body loading.Sheila.Thank you for all your advice, support and great patience.Special thanks to Justus and his family for making me a part of your life and making time for me.Next I would like to thank my research assistants Zach and Stephen.Your dedication and long hours made this project possible.I know you will both go on to do great things
Author: Katlyn Morgan Mannatt
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1719945530