The process of habituation to treadmill walking at different velocities

Abstract

Young adult male subjects (18) who were unaccustomed to treadmill walking, walked for 10 min on a motorized treadmill. The subjects were split into 3 groups, with 6 subjects in each group walking at a given relative speed. The use of relative speed factors out stature differences known to affect walking velocity. The relative speeds chosen were 0.55 (slow), 0.86 (normal) and 1.2 (fast) statures/s. The angular kinematics and temporal aspects of gait were analyzed to determine at which point in the exposure to treadmill walking a stable walking pattern was achieved. There was an initial, rapid accommodation to the new modality, followed by a longer, more gradual habituation. After 10 min of treadmill walking, a steady-state was not achieved in any group.