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Lower Limb Joint Angles and Their Variability during Uphill Walking

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Javad SarvestanORCiD

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Abstract

BackgroundAdaptation of the walking pattern to uphill walking demands immediate coordination between the lower limb segments. Nonetheless, knowledge about individual joints’ responses and variability in response to the new slope angles are missing.AimsThis study investigated the impacts of uphill walking on the ankle, the knee and the hip joints angles and their variability.MethodsTwenty-three collegiate athletes (age: 22.04 ± 3.43years, body mass: 62.14 ± 9.26Kg, height: 168.29 ± 7.06 cm) walked on an inclined treadmill at 0 ° (level walking -LW), 5 ° (low-slope-walking -LSW), and 10 ° (high-slope-walking -HSW) slopes at their preferred walking speed (4.2 ± 0.51 km.h−1). The ankle, knee and hip joints angles and their variability (standard deviations) were calculated and analysed throughout the gait cycles in LW, LSW, and HSW.ResultsRepeated measure ANOVA portrayed significant differences between the ankle joint angles in sagittal (p < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .005, .14 < ηp2>.01) planes. In the knee joint, the sagittal (p < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .05, ηp2>.14) angles were significantly different (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the hip joint, the sagittal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .05, ηp2>.14) angles were significantly different. Ankle angle variability was significantly different in sagittal (P < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p = .002, ηp2>.14) and horizontal (P < .001, ηp2>.14) planes, as well as knee joint angle variability in sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes p < 0.001, ηp2>.14. The hip joint variability was considerably different in sagittal (p = .031, ηp2>.14) and horizontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14) planes.ConclusionUphill walking involves further modifications in the ankle, knee and hip joints angle to adjust the whole-body movements to a new slope. This adjustment resulted in a firm base of support, provided by the ankle, to regulate the knee and hip joints modifications. Nevertheless, it caused less ankle movement variability and could end up with injuries over long-term uphill walking.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Sarvestan J, Aghaie P, Yazdanbakhsh F, Abbasi Sh, Abbasi A, Svoboda z

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Gait & Posture

Year: 2021

Volume: 90

Pages: 434-440

Print publication date: 01/10/2021

Online publication date: 25/09/2021

Acceptance date: 15/09/2021

ISSN (print): 0966-6362

ISSN (electronic): 1879-2219

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.195

DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.195

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