The Role of Ankle Plantarflexors in Maintaining Dynamic Balance during Human Walking

Author(s)

Richard R. Neptune, University of Texas at Austin
Craig P. McGowan, University of Idaho
Allison Kinney, University of DaytonFollow

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

6-2012

Publication Source

American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference

Abstract

The regulation of whole-body angular momentum is essential for maintaining dynamic balance during human walking and appears to be tightly controlled during normal and pathological movement. The primary mechanism to regulate angular momentum is muscle force generation, which accelerates the body segments and generates ground reaction forces that alter angular momentum about the body’s center-of-mass to restore and maintain dynamic balance. Previous modeling studies have shown the ankle plantarflexors are important contributors to the anterior/posterior, vertical and medial/lateral ground reaction forces during human walking, and therefore appear critical to regulating angular momentum and maintaining dynamic balance during walking.

ISBN/ISSN

9780791844809

Copyright

Copyright © 2012, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Publisher

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Place of Publication

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Peer Reviewed

yes

eCommons Citation

Neptune, Richard R.; McGowan, Craig P.; and Kinney, Allison, "The Role of Ankle Plantarflexors in Maintaining Dynamic Balance during Human Walking" (2012). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications. 10.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/mee_fac_pub/10