Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Forestry Environments: Implications for Movement Stability and Safety

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Forestry Environments: Implications for Movement Stability and Safety

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Biomechanical Analysis of Gait in Forestry Environments: Implications for Movement Stability and Safety

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

40102 - Forestry

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Forests

ISSN

1999-4907

e-ISSN

1999-4907

Svazek periodika

16

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

6

Stát vydavatele periodika

CH - Švýcarská konfederace

Počet stran výsledku

24

Strana od-do

996

Kód UT WoS článku

001515533200001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105009052024