Latest Gait Stories

By picking up walking speed early on, seniors can greatly enhance the benefits of walking "“ including improving their chances of living longer. However, podiatrists and other foot care experts point out that proper footwear and taking care of feet is essential to a successful walking regimen. Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) March 14, 2011 As part of a regular exercise regimen, it's long been known that walking enables older Americans to stay fit longer and increase their physical stamina. An...

Researchers report that an arctic relative of the grouse has evolved to cope with its extreme environment by moving efficiently at high speeds or when carrying winter weight. This discovery is of relevance to welfare in the poultry industry where birds are bred to be heavier. Ultimately better understanding the physiology of a natural animal model of extreme weight gain could one day lead to improving the welfare and meat yield of domesticated breeds and so contribute to preventing a future...

In an analysis that included data from 9 studies, having higher measures of walking speed among older adults was associated with increased length of survival, according to a study in the January 5 issue of JAMA."Remaining years of life vary widely in older adults, and physicians should consider life expectancy when assessing goals of care and treatment plans. However, life expectancy based on age and sex alone provides limited information because survival is also influenced by health and...

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Walking fast may do more than just help you get somewhere quickly. A new study reveals those who have faster walking speeds live longer lives.Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed data on more than 34,000 adults who were 65 years of age or older. They measured gait speed for each participant using distance in meters and time in seconds.Results showed walking speed was associated with differences in survival, especially among those who were older than 75...

Study shows how humans ran comfortably and safely before the invention of shoesNew research is casting doubt on the old adage, "All you need to run is a pair of shoes."Scientists have found that those who run barefoot, or in minimal footwear, tend to avoid "heel-striking," and instead land on the ball of the foot or the middle of the foot. In so doing, these runners use the architecture of the foot and leg and some clever Newtonian physics to avoid hurtful and potentially...

New evidence identifies critical variable imposing biological limit to running speedJamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's record-setting performances have unleashed a wave of interest in the ultimate limits to human running speed. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology offers intriguing insights into the biology and perhaps even the future of human running speed.The newly published evidence identifies the critical variable imposing the biological limit to running speed, and...

Göttingen scientists develop an autonomous walking robot that flexibly switches between many different gaits by using "chaos control"Even simple insects can generate quite different movement patterns with their six legs. The animal uses various gaits depending on whether it crawls uphill or downhill, slowly or fast. Scientists from Göttingen have now developed a walking robot, which - depending on the situation - can flexibly and autonomously switch between different gaits....

Arizona State University researchers have developed a prosthetic device that literally puts the spring back into an amputee's step. The ASU scientists have developed and refined SPARKy (for spring ankle with regenerative kinetics) into a smart, active and energy storing below-the-knee (transbitial) prosthesis.SPARKy is the first prosthetic device to apply regenerative kinetics to its design, which resulted in a lightweight (four pound) device that allows the wearer to walk on grass, cement...

Scientists have discovered that the reason we swing our arms while we walk can be attributed to our body's natural ability to conserve energy.Scientists have long been puzzled over the reasons why humans swing their arms while walking. But a recent study conducted by researchers in the US and the Netherlands appears to have found that answer.They found that it actually requires 12 percent more metabolic energy to hold arms still rather than swinging them while walking.Researchers from the...

MINNEAPOLIS, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than 80 years, Courage Center, the Minnesota-based non-profit rehabilitation and resource center, has been a leader in incorporating new and innovative technologies into their therapies. That legacy continues today: Courage Center Forest Lake is the first site in the midwest to offer Interactive Metronome Gait Mate(R) which focuses on improving a person's walking pattern. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090609/CG30042) The IM Gait...