Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biomechanical Characteristics of Walking and Running during Unloading of the Musculoskeletal System by Vertical Hanging

  • Published:
Human Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The article presents the results of a biomechanical analysis of locomotion (walking and running) on a treadmill under normal conditions and when the weight load on the human musculoskeletal system was reduced to 70% of body weight. The study was conducted with the participation of 24 apparently healthy volunteers aged 25.1 ± 5.2 years, body weight from 66 to 90 kg (77.7 ± 6.7 kg), body length from 172 to 192 cm (179.7 ± 6.3 cm). During the study, volunteers performed two treadmill locomotor tests: walking at a speed of 4.5 km/h and running at a speed of 10 km/h with different body weight unloading values: 100 and 70% of body weight. The change in weight load on the musculoskeletal system was performed by vertical hanging. The kinematic, spatiotemporal parameters, ground reaction forces of locomotions, and electromyographic (EMG) activity of leg muscles were recorded and analyzed. The results of the study revealed significant differences in the ground reaction force values of locomotion, as well as kinematic parameters, which was manifested by a decrease in the angular displacements in the knee and ankle joints in the push-off and swing phases. Analysis of the EMG of leg muscles made it possible to determine the contribution of muscles to the performance of walking and running on a treadmill at different weight loads. During walking, when the musculoskeletal system was unloaded up to 30% of the body weight, a significant reduction in the EMG cost was revealed (within 9–23% compared to normal walking). During running, reduction in the EMG cost with a change in the weight load varied from 8 to 37%. Body weight unloading up to 30% decreases the efforts to perform take-off. In addition, the results of the study indicate a change in the contribution of the lower and upper leg muscles when locomotor exercises were performed under conditions of reduced weight load on the musculoskeletal system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Bogdanov, V.A., Gurfinkel’, V.S., and Panfilov, V.E., Movements of a man in lunar gravity, Kosm. Biol. Med., 1971, vol. 5, no. 2, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cavagna, G.A. and Margaria R., Human locomotion on the lunar surface, Riv. Med. Aeronaut. Spaz., 1967, vol. 30, p. 629.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Gazenko, O.G., Grigor’ev, A.I., and Egorov, A.D., Fiziologicheskie problemy nevesomosti (Physiological Problems of Weightlessness), Gazenko, O.G. and Kas’yan, I.I., Eds., Moscow: Meditsina, 1990, p. 19.

  4. Kozlovskaya, I., Dmitrieva I., Grigorieva L., et al., Gravitational mechanisms in the motor system. Studies in real and simulated weightlessness, in Stance and Motion: Facts and Concepts, Gurfinkel, V., Ioffe, M.E., Massion, J., and Roll, J.P., Eds., New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988, p. 37.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stepantsov, V.I., Tikhonov, M.A., and Eremin, A.V., Physical training as a method to prevent hypodynamic syndrome, Kosm. Biol. Aviakosm. Med., 1972, vol. 6, no. 4, p. 64.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Trappe, S., Costill, D., Gallagher, P., et al., Exercise in space: human skeletal muscle after 6 months aboard the International Space Station, J. Appl. Physiol., 2009, vol. 106, no. 4, p. 1159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Fitts, R.H., Trappe, S.W., Costill, D.L., et al., Prolonged space flight-induced alterations in the structure and function of human skeletal muscle fibres, J. Phys-iol., 2010, vol. 588, p. 3567.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fitts, R.H., Colloton, P.A., Trappe, S.W., et al., Effects of prolonged space flight on human skeletal muscle enzyme and substrate profiles, J. Appl. Physiol., 2013, vol. 115, no. 5, p. 667.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shpakov, A.V., Fomina, E.V., Lysova, N.Y., et al., Comparative efficiency of different regimens of locomotor training in prolonged space flights as estimated from the data on biomechanical and electromyographic parameters of walking, Hum. Physiol., 2013, vol. 39, no. 2, p. 162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Fomina, E.V., Lysova, N.Y., Chernova, M.V., et al., Comparative analysis of preventive efficacy of different modes of locomotor training in space flight, Hum. Physiol., 2016, vol. 42, no. 5, p. 539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Fomina, E.V., Lysova, N.Y., and Savinkina, A.O., Axial load during the performance of locomotor training in microgravity as a factor of hypogravity countermeasure efficiency, Hum. Physiol., 2018, vol. 44, no. 1, p. 47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Moore, A.D., Downs, M.E., Lee, S.M., et al., Peak exercise oxygen uptake during and following long-duration spaceflight, J. Appl. Physiol., 2014, vol. 117, no. 3, p. 231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Popov, D.V., Khusnutdinova, D.R., Shenkman, B.S., et al., Dynamics of physical performance during long-duration space flight (first results of “Countermeasure” experiment), J. Gravitational Physiol., 2004, vol. 11, no. 2, p. 231.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fomina, E.V., Savinkina, A.O., and Yarmanova, E.N., Ground reaction force values in cosmonauts during locomotor exercises on board the international space station, Hum. Physiol., 2017, vol. 43, no. 5, p. 542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Saveko, A., Rukavishnikov, I., Brykov, V., et al., Foot-ground reaction force during long-term space flight and after it: walking in active treadmill mode, Gait Posture, 2020, vol. 76, p. 382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. DeWitt, J.K. and Ploutz-Snyder, L.L., Ground reaction forces during treadmill running in microgravity, J. Biomech., 2014, vol. 47, no. 10, p. 2339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ivanenko, Y.P., Grasso, R., Macellari, V., and Lacquaniti, F., Control of foot trajectory in human locomotion: role of ground contact forces in simulated reduced gravity, J. Neurophysiol., 2002, vol. 87, no. 6, p. 3070.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Miller, C.A., Peters, B.T., Brady, R.R., et al., Change in toe clearance during treadmill walking after long-duration spaceflight, Aviat. Space Environ. Med., 2010, vol. 81, no. 10, p. 919.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Shpakov, A.V. and Voronov, A.V., Specific organization of a person’s walking at gravitational load of different magnitude on the musculoskeletal system, Aviakosm. Ekol. Med., 2017, vol. 51, no. 7, p. 38.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lewek, M.D., The influence of body weight support on ankle mechanics during treadmill walking, J. Biomech., 2011, vol. 44, no. 9, p. 128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Fischer, A.G. and Wolf, A., The effects of body weight unloading on kinetics and muscle activity of overweight males during overground walking, Clin. Biomech., 2018, vol. 52, p. 80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Yarmonova, E.N., Kozlovskaya, I.B., Khimoroda, N.N., and Fomina, E.V., Evolution of Russian microgravity countermeasures, Aerospace Med. Hum. Perform., 2015, vol. 86, suppl. 12, p. 32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Grigor’ev, A.I., Kozlovskaya, I.B., and Shenkman, B.S., The role of support afferentation in the organization of the tonic muscular system, Ross. Fiziol. Zh. im. I.M. Sechenova, 2004, vol. 90, no. 5, p. 508.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kozlovskaya, I.B., Gravity and the tonic postural motor system, Hum. Physiol., 2018, vol. 44, no. 7, p. 725.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Winter, D.A., Foot trajectory in human gait: a precise and multifactorial motor control task, Phys. Ther., 1992, vol. 72, no. 1, p. 45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cappellini, G., Ivanenko, Y.P., Poppele, R.E., and Lacquaniti, F., Motor patterns in human walking and running, J. Neurophysiol., 2006, vol. 95, no. 6, p. 3426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lacquaniti, F., Ivanenko, Y., and Sylos-Labini, F., Human locomotion in hypogravity: from basic research to clinical applications, Front. Physiol., 2017, vol. 8, p. 893.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Hansen, C., Einarson, E., Thomson, A., et al., Hamstring and calf muscle activation as a function of bodyweight support during treadmill running in ACL reconstructed athletes, Gait Posture, 2017, vol. 58, no. 9, p. 154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Neptune, R.R., Clark, D.J., and Kautz, S.A., Modular control of human walking: a simulation study, J. Biomech., 2009, vol. 42, p. 1282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Voronov, A.V., Anatomicheskoe stroenie i biomekhanicheskie kharakteristiki myshts i sustavov nizhnei konechnosti (Anatomical Structure and Biomechanical Characteristics of the Muscles and Joints of the Lower Limb), Moscow: Fizkul’t., Obarz. Nauka, 2003.

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-315-20 010.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 123182, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Shpakov, A. A. Artamonov, D. O. Orlov & A. A. Puchkova

  2. Federal Research Center of Physical Education and Sports, 119571, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Voronov

Authors
  1. A. V. Shpakov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. V. Voronov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. A. Artamonov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. O. Orlov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. A. Puchkova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. V. Shpakov.

Ethics declarations

COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the biomedical ethics principles formulated in the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments and approved by the local ethics commission of the Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Russian Federal Medical Biological Agency (Moscow).

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

INFORMED CONSENT

Each study participant provided a voluntary written informed consent signed by him after explaining to him the potential risks and benefits, as well as the nature of the upcoming study.

Additional information

Translated by E. Babchenko

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shpakov, A.V., Voronov, A.V., Artamonov, A.A. et al. Biomechanical Characteristics of Walking and Running during Unloading of the Musculoskeletal System by Vertical Hanging. Hum Physiol 47, 419–428 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119721030154

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119721030154

Keywords:

Search

Navigation