Gait Kinematics And Dynamics Of Walking On A Non-motorized Treadmill Versus A Motorized Treadmill

PURPOSE: Walking has become one of the most popular physical activities to improve physical fitness among adults. Motorized treadmills are often used for recreation, training, research, and clinical purposes. Treadmills are a reasonable alternative to outdoor walking due to its availability and its ability to control variables (i.e., speed and incline). However, motorized treadmills are believed to alter walking biomechanics when compared to overground walking. Recently, non-motorized treadmills have become more popular due its possible effects on gait kinematics and dynamics, and a curved platform may allow the user to walk with more mechanically efficient gait. The purpose of this study is to determine differences in gait kinematics and dynamics between a curved non-motorized treadmill (Technogym Skillmill®) and a standard motorized treadmill. METHODS: Thirty participants between the age of 22 and 42 were included in this study. Participants were asked to walk for two 5-minute periods. The first 5-minute period was on a non-motorized treadmill with a self-selected walking speed and the second 5-minute period was on a motorized treadmill at the same speed of the non-motorized treadmill. Gait kinematics and dynamics were measured using the Qualisys 3D motion analysis system Gait PAF package. RESULTS: While walking on the non-motorized treadmill produced changes in the means of several gait kinematic variables during the testing including increased hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion, and gait dynamics including greater stride length, single limb stance time and increased step rate, these changes were not statistically significant when compared to gait on a standard motorized treadmill. CONCLUSION: Previous research has compared overground running vs motorized treadmill running but research is limited in the biomechanics of walking on motorized and non-motorized treadmills. This study provides additional information on walking biomechanics differences between a motorized and non-motorized curved treadmill to better understand the clinical uses of each type of treadmill.