The Influence of Movement Velocity on Inter-Lower-Limbs Kinematical Symmetry in Normal Walking: Pilot Study

Changes in horizontal velocity are known to influence many biomechanical characteristics of walking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of movement velocity on lower-limb symmetry in normal walking.
A total of 11 angular and eight temporal parameters from sagittal plane angle-time curves of both lower limbs joints of 10 young able-bodied males were collected at each of the three relative velocity conditions (slow, normal and fast) using a six-camera motion capture system. Data was analyzed using a series of 2×3 repeated measures ANOVAs at the significance level of 0.05.
The results revealed that in all the four angular parameters and the six temporal parameters, on which speed and lower-limb had significant influence, asymmetry was found between the limbs in slow-velocity walking. However, in normal-velocity walking, the two angular parameters and the four temporal parameters and in fast-velocity walking only one of the temporal parameters demonstrated asymmetry between the limbs.
Analysis of interaction effects of walking velocity and lower-limb showed the greater asymmetries at the slow velocity condition with a trend toward improved symmetry at higher velocities. Considering the possibility of the effect of movement velocity, it is recommended that this factor be controlled during investigating the walking behavior in clinical and research settings.