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The determinants of the step frequency in walking in humans.
Author(s) -
Cavagna G A,
Franzetti P
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp016044
Subject(s) - power (physics) , preferred walking speed , natural frequency , mathematics , frequency analysis , two step , control theory (sociology) , acoustics , physics , simulation , computer science , statistics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , control (management) , medicine , artificial intelligence , vibration , quantum mechanics
The mechanical power spent during walking in lifting and accelerating the centre of mass, Wext, has been measured at three given speeds maintained at different step frequencies: at any given speed, Wext is smaller the greater the step frequency used. The mechanical power spent in accelerating the limbs relative to the centre of mass during walking at a given speed, but with different step frequencies, Wint, was calculated from previous data obtained during free walking (Cavagna & Kaneko, 1977). At a given walking speed, Wint increases with the step frequency. The total power, Wtot = Wext + Wint, reaches a minimum at a step frequency which is 20‐30% less than the step frequency freely chosen at the same period. The step frequency at which Wtot is minimum increases with speed in a similar way to the natural step frequency during free walking.