Determinants of the gait transition speed during human locomotion: kinetic factors

Abstract The purpose of this paper was to examine whether kinetic factors trigger the gait transition during human locomotion as has been suggested to be the case for animals. Five kinetic variables (maximum loading rate, braking and propulsive impulse, and braking and propulsive force peaks) were identified as possible determinants of the gait transition from previous literature. However, none of the variables analysed were found to be important in determining the preferred transition speed. It was concluded that kinetic factors do not trigger the gait transition during human locomotion.

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