Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Forestry Environments: Implications for Movement Stability and Safety
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62156489%3A43410%2F25%3A43926926" target="_blank" >RIV/62156489:43410/25:43926926 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/f16060996" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.3390/f16060996</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f16060996" target="_blank" >10.3390/f16060996</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Forestry Environments: Implications for Movement Stability and Safety
Original language description
Forestry is recognized as one of the most physically demanding professions. Walking in presents unique biomechanical challenges due to complex, irregular terrain, with several possible risks. This study investigated how human gait adapts across solid surfaces, forest trails, and natural forest environments. Fifteen healthy adult participants (average age 38.3; ten males and five females) completed 150 walking trials, with full-body motion captured via a 17 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors (Xsens MVN Awinda system). The analysis focused on spatial and temporal gait parameters, including cadence, step length, foot strike pattern, and center of mass variability. Statistical methods (ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis) revealed that surface type significantly influenced gait mechanics. On forest terrain, participants exhibited wider steps, reduced cadence, increased step and stride variability, and a substantial shift from heel-to-toe strikes. Gait adaptations reflect compensatory neuromuscular strategies to maintain body balance. The findings confirm that forestry terrain complexity compromises human gait stability and increases physical demands, supporting step variability and slip, trip, and fall risk. By identifying key biomechanical markers of instability, this study contributes to understanding human locomotion principles. Understanding these changes can help design safety measures for outdoor professions, particularly forestry.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
40102 - Forestry
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Forests
ISSN
1999-4907
e-ISSN
1999-4907
Volume of the periodical
16
Issue of the periodical within the volume
6
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
24
Pages from-to
996
UT code for WoS article
001515533200001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105009052024