Validation of a Force-Plate-Only Method to Quantify Walking Stability-Control Mechanisms

• Megan Reading, Exercise Science, University of Delaware

• Jeremy Crenshaw, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware

Walking stability in the frontal plane stability requires active control. The body maintains stability while walking by utilizing push-off and foot placement mechanisms. These mechanisms can be assessed to determine an individual’s stability while walking. A marker-based method has traditionally been used to quantify these mechanisms, however, a force-plate-only approach would have the advantages of requiring less instrumentation, and it would improve validity for those with larger or atypical body sizes. Building on previous studies, we have developed biomechanical methods to quantify the contribution of these mechanisms using force plate data alone. The purpose of this study is to assess the agreement between the marker-based method and the force-plate-alone method. Four adults with no neuromotor impairments participated in the study. The center of mass height was determined using a reaction board. Participants walked on an instrumented treadmill at a preferred speed as motion capture and force-plate data were recorded. We analyzed the average foot placement and push-off contributions per limb and per stride for both methods. Agreement between these methods was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots. By comparing the two methods of quantifying walking stability control mechanisms, we aim to validate the force-plate-only approach as a suitable alternative to the marker-based method.