Scientific Reports · 8 authors, 4 centres
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This laboratory study measured gait variability in recruit-aged adults during treadmill-based loaded and forced-marching tasks. It found that participants prioritized the goal of maintaining trial velocity, leading to increased variability that might elevate musculoskeletal injury risk.
This experimental laboratory study assessed the interactive effects of load magnitude and locomotion pattern on gait control strategies in healthy, recreationally fit adults aged 18-35. The central finding was that participants adopted a goal manifold control strategy, prioritizing maintenance of the target velocity. This was evidenced by optimal spatiotemporal complexity (alpha values of 0.75–1.00), increased relative variability during more challenging loaded and forced-marching conditions, and looser control of null space variability. The authors interpret this as state-space exploratory behavior focused on the task goal, potentially at the expense of other cost functions related to mechanical efficiency or injury risk. Limitations include the use of a constrained treadmill environment and the novice status of participants with the specific tasks. The findings suggest that during novel, short-duration load carriage tasks, individuals may not optimize for musculoskeletal health, which has implications for understanding injury risk in military recruits.
