INITIATION OF GAIT

The initiation of gait was studied utilizing electromyography, force-plate data, measurements of walking velocites, and ranges of motion of joints, all of which demonstrated that gait is initiated by the body becoming unbalanced in such a way as to permit a subject to pick one foot off the ground in order to take the first step. The subsequent transition of the body to the steady gait pattern occurs rapidly over a period of approximately three steps. This transition involves rapid changes in the measured forces and activities of the muscles of the lower extremity and the motion of the joints reflects these changes.