The effect of pelvic list on the vertical displacement of the trunk during normal walking

We measured pelvic list in three normal ambulators, and calculated the vertical displacement of the trunk that is due to pelvic list. Pelvic list was found to be maximum at approximately toe-off and nearly neutral (less than 2 degrees) at midswing for freely-selected gait. The effect of pelvic list on the vertical displacement of the trunk, for normal, freely-selected gait, was mainly to decrease the mean vertical position by 2-4 mm and shift the waveform in phase by about 10-15 degrees lag. The magnitude of the trunk's vertical excursion was determined to be virtually unaffected by pelvic list. This finding is in conflict with conventional wisdom that pelvic list reduces the vertical excursion of the body during normal walking.