Normative Data of the External Work of Individual Limbs and of the Distribution of Joint Work During Stair Crossing

Background

Stair walking requires to elevate or lower the body center of mass and results in increased muscle contractions and consumed energy compared to level walking. Mechanical work produced by the body can be quantified through Individual Limb Method and the summed lower limb joint work but there does not exist normative data of these works in stair ascent and descent compared to slope ascent and descent of the same individuals.

Methods

Upstair and downstair walking were investigated at 0%, 5% and 12% inclinations and compared to upslope and downslope walking for thirteen able-bodied volunteers. Lower limb joint and individual limb powers and works were compared across walking conditions.

Findings

Work production and absorption required to elevate or lower the center of mass directly depend on the inclination to be crossed (about 0.35 J/kg for 5% slope, 0.9 J/kg for 12% slope and 1.6 J/kg for stair). However, the distribution among joints and between gait phases is different when considering stair versus slope walking. In particular, the role of the knee is exacerbated for work production in stair ascent (45% of total work) as well as for work absorption in stair descent (61% of total work). Also, more work production/absorption is performed during the swing phase for stair walking then for slope walking.

Interpretation

This study provides reference data of the Individual Limb mechanical work performed during stair walking and show that this method can substitute to summed lower limb joint one during the stance phase of stair walking.