Preliminary study of distance needed to achieve constant walking speed and step length by young healthy persons

Abstract

[Purpose] To determine the length of the gait initiation phase before achieving steady state walking in healthy young adults, to provide a source of perspective on assessments of walking in narrow circumstances such as at home. [Methods] The average step length and speed of 10-m maximal walking were measured for 10 subjects. Simultaneously, the variability of step length and speed during the first seven steps from walking initiation were analyzed using a video motion analysis system. Then, the distance to achieve steady state walking speed and step length was calculated and analyzed statistically. [Results] The coefficient of variance of step length and walking speed decreased to a level of 0.01 after step 3 and step 4, respectively, during the first seven steps, and it appeared to become constant. [Conclusion] The average distance of the first 4 steps was 3.27 m, suggesting that an indicative distance for achieving constant walking speed and step length may be 3.5 m.