Relationship Between Ankle Frontal Muscle Powers and Three-D Gait Patterns

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to demonstrate that the ankle frontal muscle power absorption and generation at push-off are related to the foot's initial position at heel-strike with respect to the body center of mass. DESIGN: Nineteen able-bodied male subjects participated in this study and were divided into two groups according to ankle frontal plane power generation or absorption at push-off. RESULTS: At heel-strike, the group that absorbed had a center of pressure that was located on average 25% more anteriorly and 36% more laterally to the body center of mass. Moreover, at push-off, the center of pressure was closer (26%) to the center of mass than in the generating group. The absorbing group compensated by increasing their sagittal plane hip energy by 30% to pull the lower limb forward and their knee power absorption by 47% to slow down the leg before the subsequent heel-strike. CONCLUSIONS: The foot's initial position at heel-strike explains in part the ankle frontal power generation or absorption at push-off. Increasing hip and knee sagittal joint powers and mechanical energies were the main contributors in compensating and providing a broader base of support and frontal plane ankle power absorption.