Spinal adaptive response in the frontal plane was investigated in relationship to pelvic unleveling during gait. Kinematic data were collected from 10 healthy adult subjects (5 male, 5 female) for walking and running on the treadmill at self-selected speeds. Spine and pelvic kinematic patterns and ranges of motion (ROM) were investigated with gender, speed and slope as factors. Speed and slope had the greatest impact on changes in the amplitude of the spine's kinematic patterns. Interaction effects were seen for speed and slope for the ROM, particularly of the greater trochanter (p < .047), PSIS (p < .011) and for the shoulders (p < 0.077). Gender presented more changes in the pelvic kinematics than the spine's kinematics. A significant trend in the females of greater ROM for T8 with increases in speed and slope was shown (p < 0.001). From this study it was concluded that speed, slope and gender were significant factors that affect the spine's ability to adapt to pelvic unleveling. In all conditions there was a coupled relationship found between the thoracic spine, lumbar spine and pelvis. In particular there was an oppositional movement found within the spine such that as the lumbar spine had convexity towards the swing leg then the thoracic spine had the opposite convexity. Hence, these factors are important when assessing posture and biomechanics of running and walking.

Abstract Background. Physical therapists report inconsistent use of valid and reliable measures of walking post-stroke. Objective. To describe the methods physical therapists use to evaluate walking, reasons for selecting these methods, and the use of the evaluation results in clinical practice along the continuum of an organized system of stroke care. Methods. A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured telephone interviews of physical therapists in Ontario was conducted. A thematic analysis was performed. Results. Participants (n=28) used both standardized and non-standardized methods to assess walking. A hierarchy of factors influencing use of both methods was observed. Assessment results were commonly used for communication with other healthcare professionals or education of the patient. Conclusions. A variety of factors influence physical therapists to use standardized assessment tools. Future knowledge translation interventions should focus on these factors to improve the standardized assessment of walking post-stroke.

Human walking is dynamic, stable, and energy efficient. To achieve such remarkable legged locomotion in robots, engineers have explored bipedal robots developed based on two paradigms: trajectory-controlled and passive-based walking. Trajectory-controlled bipeds often deliver energy-inefficient gaits. The reason is that these bipeds are controlled via high-impedance geared electrical motors to accurately follow predesigned trajectories. Such trajectories are designed to keep a biped locally balanced continually while walking. On the other hand, passive-based bipeds provide energy-efficient gaits. The reason is that these bipeds adapt to their natural dynamics. Such gaits are stable limit-cycles through entire walking motion, and do not require being locally balanced at every instant during walking. However, passive-based bipeds are often of round/point foot bipeds that are not capable of achieving and experiencing standing, stopping, and some important bipedal gait phases and events, such as the double support phase. Therefore, the goals of this thesis are established such that the aforementioned limitations on trajectory-controlled and passive-based bipeds are resolved. Toward the above goal, comprehensive simulation and experimental explorations into bipedal walking have been carried out. Firstly, a novel systematic trajectory-controlled gait-planning framework has been developed to provide mechanical insights into bipedal walking in terms of gait characteristics and energy efficiency. For the same purpose, a novel mathematical model of passive-based bipedal walking with compliant hip-actuation and compliant-ankle flat-foot has been developed. Finally, based on mechanical insights that have been achieved by the aforementioned passive-based model, a physical prototype of a passive-based bipedal robot has been designed and fabricated. The prototype experimentally validates the importance of compliant hip-actuation in achieving a highly dynamic and energy efficient gait.

The aim of the current study is to investigate novel therapeutic/treatment methods and outcome measurement for children with Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW). Fifteen typically developing (TD) children and 15 children with ITW, aged between 4 to 10 years old, participated. The participants performed a gait exam including 30 barefoot walking trials over three 4-meter walkways before and after a whole-body vibration intervention. Vibration perception threshold tests were also conducted before and after the vibration intervention. In the gait exams, each of the walking surfaces represented a different tactile stimulus and the vibration intervention included standing on a whole body vibration platform for 60 seconds. Kinematics were collected at 100 Hz with a seven-camera 3-D motion analysis system. Walking surface and vibration intervention were the independent variables. Temporal-spatial gait parameters such as velocity, cadence, step length, and step width were measured. Heel rise occurrence (HR32) and vibration perception threshold (VPT) were also calculated as dependent variables. Walking surface significantly altered the gait parameter of both TD children and children with ITW. Vibration intervention altered the VPT scores of both TD children and children with ITW. Manipulated surface and excessive vibration may be important in the development of therapeutic/treatment methods for children with Idiopathic Toe Walking. HR32 is a novel calculation designed to distinguish on aspect of the toe-walking gait pattern. It significantly identified toe-walking patterns and quantified treatment results. Children with ITW appeared to have less toe-walking on the gravel surface. Walking on gravel surface is a potential novel method to reduce toe-walking immediately with no negative after-effects.

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Eleven older adults (49-66 years) participated in 15 weeks (60 sessions) of endurance walking. A training intensity of approximately 65% maximum heart rate was determined (Karvonen method), for each subject. The training resulted in improved cardiorespiratory fitness as evidenced by a significant 19.2% mean increase in maximal oxygen uptake (ml/ kg-min.), and a significant bradycardial response of heart rate during submaximal walking. An insignificant change in mean absolute body weight was observed, however, subjects lost significant amounts of subcutaneous body fat as demonstrated by a. decrease in percent body fat and sum of six skinfold measurements.The male subjects showed more pronounced improvements in their fitness as evidenced by a greater weight loss, lower resting heart rate, improved oxygen uptake and maximal ventilation. These benefits were possibly due to a greater walking velocity and total mileage attained by the male subjects. This infers that the men were able to exercise at a higher intensity and duration than the females.

Abstract Titel: The Walking Gender Författare: Moa Linder Bakgrund: Den populära amerikanska TV-serien The Walking Dead är en zombiefiktion som  inbjuder människor världen över att följa seriens protagonister kämpandes mot zombies och mänskliga grupperingar i ett oroligt postapokalyptiskt USA. Serien kritiseras för att vara bakåtsträvande gällande dess representationer av genus och etnicitet och  det är vad denna analys ämnar att undersöka. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka hur genus representeras genom karaktärerna i The Walking Dead med ett strukturalistiskt angreppssätt. Jag undersöker även vilken relation hudfärg har med genus i dessa representationer. Material/ metod: Mitt material består av två avsnitt av The Walking Dead. När jag analyserar valda karaktärer använder jag mig av en narrativ och semiotisk analys. Den narrativa analysmodellen ger en konkret struktur åt analysen som börjar med en övergripande narrativ beskrivning över avsnittet för att sedan gå in närmare i tre valda sekvenser som jag analyserar med hjälp av de semiotiska begreppen denotation och konnotation. Slutsatser/ resultat: Analysen visar på att genusrepresentationen hos karaktärerna i stort sker efter stereotypa mönster och anammar maskulina och feminina ideal där männen beskyddar och kvinnorna beskyddas. Det finns ett visst motstånd mot dessa mönster som främst visar sig i karaktären Michonne som inte följer feminina ideal utan istället bär stereotypa maskulina egenskaper. De svarta kvinnliga karaktärerna följer inte feminina ideal utan tendenserar att motsätta sig normen medan de vita kvinnliga karaktärerna upprätthåller feminina ideal. De manliga karaktärerna förkroppsligar det manliga idealet ’den riktiga mannen’. Den maskulina hegemonin verkar med en hierarkisk ordning där den asiatiske och den svarta manliga karaktären befinner sig lägre än de vita karaktärerna.

This research investigates the effect of pedestrian countdown signals (PCS devices) on crossing walking speed of pedestrians at urban signalized intersections. The research considers two age groups: (1) younger pedestrians (ages 20 to 64); and (2) older pedestrians (ages 65 and older). Two pedestrian walking speeds were used for this research: (1) crossing walking speed (speed pedestrians walk crossing a signalized intersection); and (2) normal walking speed (speed pedestrians walk a segment of sidewalk). The research found that PCS devices have an effect on a pedestrians’ crossing walking speed, regardless of age, by decreasing the speed. Older pedestrians alter their walking speed after the installation of PCS devices more than younger pedestrians. Furthermore, after the installation of PCS devices the walking speed of pedestrians shifts from a faster crossing walking speed towards a slower normal walking speed.

In this thesis work an intelligent controller based on a gait synthesizer for a hexapod robot used in rescue operations is developed. The gait synthesizer draws decisions from insect-inspired gait patterns to the changing needs of the terrain and that of rescue. It is composed of three modules responsible for selecting a new gait, evaluating the current gait, and modifying the recommended gait according to the internal reinforcements of past time steps. A Fuzzy Logic Controller is implemented in selecting the new gaits.