Gait Difference on Irregular Surface under Cooling Lower-leg Muscle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an uneven surface on muscle spindle function in lower-leg muscles during walking. Subjects included 3 healthy young adult males. Normal and high-speed walking motion ware measured on two surfaces: an even surface and an uneven surface. Healthy and reduced muscle spindle function conditions were compared. The ice immersion approach was applied on the lower-leg muscles as a method of reducing muscle spindle function. To create an irregular surface, a thin cloth carpet was modified by blocks beneath the carpet. During normal walking on even surface, the step length was significantly decreased (p<0.01) and, during normal walking on even and uneven surface, the step width was significantly increased by icing (p<0.01). During normal and high-speed walking on even surface, walking velocity was significantly decreased by icing (p<0.01). These results mean that the muscle spindle function is related to walking. However, standard deviations of walking parameters were not significantly changed and the rates of accelerations were significantly decreased. Therefore, this study suggests that the muscle spindle function is not important in order to walk on irregular surface.