Variation of Walking Speeds on a Unidirectional Walkway and on a Bidirectional Stairway

Physical performance is mainly assessed in terms of gait speed, chair rise capacity, and balance skills, and assessments are often carried out on the lower limbs. Such physical performance is largely influenced by the strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. Flexibility of the hamstrings is important because quadriceps muscle activity influences the hip flexion angle. Therefore, hamstring flexibility is essential to improve physical performance. In this study, Myofascial Release (MFR) was applied to the hamstrings to evaluate its effects. MFR on the hamstrings was performed on 17 young adults. Physical function and physical performance were measured before, immediately after, and 5 days after the MFR intervention: finger floor distance (FFD), range of motion (ROM) of the straight leg raising test (SLR), standing long jump (SLJ), squat jump (SJ), functional reach test (FRT), comfortable walking speeds (C-walking speed), and maximum walking speeds (M-walking speed). The results of the analysis show a significant increase in FFD (−2.6 ± 8.9 vs. 0.4 ± 9.4 vs. 2.4 ± 8.9, p < 0.01), SLJ (185.6 ± 44.5 vs. 185.0 ± 41.8 vs. 196.6 ± 40.1, p < 0.01), and M-walking speed (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.6 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6, p < 0.01). This study has shown that MFR for hamstrings not only improves flexibility but also increases M-walking speed and physical performance of the SLJ. As MFR is safe and does not involve joint movement, it may be useful for maintaining and improving performance and flexibility during inactivity and for stretching before exercise.

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Do humans exploit the metabolic and mechanical benefits of arm swing across slow to fast walking speeds?

Journal of Biomechanics ◽

10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110181 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 115 ◽

pp. 110181

Author(s):

Shernice A. Thomas ◽

Daisey Vega ◽

Christopher J. Arellano

Keyword(s):

Arm Swing ◽

Fast Walking ◽

Walking Speeds

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Experimental Study of an Airplane Accident Evacuation/Rescue Simulation Using 3D Kinematic Digital Human Models

Volume 1A: 34th Computers and Information in Engineering Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2014-34537 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Takao Kakizaki ◽

Jiro Urii ◽

Mitsuru Endo

Keyword(s):

Test Field ◽

Evacuation Simulation ◽

Evacuation Time ◽

Digital Human Models ◽

Emergency Exit ◽

Simulation Results ◽

Evacuation Drills ◽

Walking Speeds ◽

Mass Evacuation ◽

Digital Human

The 3D mass evacuation simulation of an airplane accident is experimentally verified. Evacuee motion has been experimentally investigated by building a test field that emulates the interior of an actual regional airliner with a capacity of approximately 100 passengers. The experiment results indicate that the evacuation time tends to be affected by the number of passengers and the evacuee guidance at the emergency exit. The results also indicate that any evacuation delay in exiting by individual passengers only slightly affects the total evacuation time because of evacuee congestion in the aisles. Moreover, the importance of evacuation guidance notification was investigated based on the evacuation-order variance. Finally, the experimental results were compared to the corresponding simulation results. Simulations using appropriate evacuee walking speeds can provide valid evacuation times, which are the most important factor in designing evacuation drills. Consequently, these results should be applied to existing 3D simulations using precise KDH models for more accurate mass evacuation/rescue simulations.

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Exercise in the Treatment of Claudication: Assessment and Treatment of Functional Impairment

Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1177/1358863x9700200313 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 238-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Judith G Regensteiner

Keyword(s):

Functional Status ◽

Training Programs ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Community Settings ◽

Before And After ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Walking Speeds ◽

Walking Time ◽

Efficacy Studies

Claudication is an important cause of impaired exercise capacity, which limits a patient's ability to walk and thus to meet the personal, social and occupational demands of daily life. Given that improvement of the walking impairment is the primary goal of treating claudication, exercise performance and functional status of patients with claudication should be measured before and after any intervention. Assessment of functional status in both the laboratory and community settings is important so that the various treatments can be judged as to relative efficacy. Studies have shown that exercise training programs have a clinically important impact on functional capacity in persons with claudication. A meta-analysis showed that pain-free walking time increased 180% and maximal walking time increased 120% in claudicants who participated in an exercise program. Substantial improvements have been found in walking speeds and distances (65% and 44%, respectively), caloric expenditure (31%) and physical functioning (67%).

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Household accessibility to heat refuges: Residential air conditioning, public cooled space, and walkability

Environment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science ◽

10.1177/0265813516657342 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 1036-1055 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Andrew M Fraser ◽

Mikhail V Chester ◽

David Eisenman ◽

David M Hondula ◽

Stephanie S Pincetl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Public Space ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Air Conditioning ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Heat Exposure ◽

Household Level ◽

Private And Public ◽

Residential Air Conditioning ◽

Walking Speeds

Access to air conditioned space is critical for protecting urban populations from the adverse effects of heat exposure. Yet there remains fairly limited knowledge of the penetration of private (home air conditioning) and distribution of public (cooling centers and commercial space) cooled space across cities. Furthermore, the deployment of government-sponsored cooling centers is likely to be inadequately informed with respect to the location of existing cooling resources (residential air conditioning and air conditioned public space), raising questions of the equitability of access to heat refuges. We explore the distribution of private and public cooling resources and access inequities at the household level in two major US urban areas: Los Angeles County, California and Maricopa County, Arizona (whose county seat is Phoenix). We evaluate the presence of in-home air conditioning and develop a walking-based accessibility measure to air conditioned public space using a combined cumulative opportunities-gravity approach. We find significant variations in the distribution of residential air conditioning across both regions which are largely attributable to building age and inter/intra-regional climate differences. There are also regional disparities in walkable access to public cooled space. At average walking speeds, we find that official cooling centers are only accessible to a small fraction of households (3% in Los Angeles, 2% in Maricopa) while a significantly higher number of households (80% in Los Angeles, 39% in Maricopa) have access to at least one other type of public cooling resource such as a library or commercial establishment. Aggregated to a neighborhood level, we find that there are areas within each region where access to cooled space (either public or private) is limited which may increase heat-related health risks.

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Gait Parameter Adjustments for Walking on a Treadmill at Preferred, Slower, and Faster Speeds in Older Adults with Down Syndrome

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research ◽

10.1155/2012/782671 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Beth A. Smith ◽

Masayoshi Kubo ◽

Beverly D. Ulrich

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Down Syndrome ◽

Stride Frequency ◽

Gait Patterns ◽

Gait Stability ◽

Foot Placement ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Younger Age ◽

All Speeds ◽

Walking Speeds

The combined effects of ligamentous laxity, hypotonia, and decrements associated with aging lead to stability-enhancing foot placement adaptations during routine overground walking at a younger age in adults with Down syndrome (DS) compared to their peers with typical development (TD). Our purpose here was to examine real-time adaptations in older adults with DS by testing their responses to walking on a treadmill at their preferred speed and at speeds slower and faster than preferred. We found that older adults with DS were able to adapt their gait to slower and faster than preferred treadmill speeds; however, they maintained their stability-enhancing foot placements at all speeds compared to their peers with TD. All adults adapted their gait patterns similarly in response to faster and slower than preferred treadmill-walking speeds. They increased stride frequency and stride length, maintained step width, and decreased percent stance as treadmill speed increased. Older adults with DS, however, adjusted their stride frequencies significantly less than their peers with TD. Our results show that older adults with DS have the capacity to adapt their gait parameters in response to different walking speeds while also supporting the need for intervention to increase gait stability.

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Pedestrian Behavior at Signalized Intersection Crosswalks: Observational Study of Factors Associated with Distracted Walking, Pedestrian Violations, and Walking Speed

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/0361198118759949 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2672 (35) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Brendan J. Russo ◽

Emmanuel James ◽

Cristopher Y. Aguilar ◽

Edward J. Smaglik

Keyword(s):

Traffic Safety ◽

Walking Speed ◽

The United States ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Signalized Intersections ◽

Video Data ◽

High Definition ◽

Pedestrian Behavior ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Walking Speeds

In the past two decades, cell phone and smartphone use in the United States has increased substantially. Although mobile phones provide a convenient way for people to communicate, the distraction caused by the use of these devices has led to unintended traffic safety and operational consequences. Although it is well recognized that distracted driving is extremely dangerous for all road users (including pedestrians), the potential impacts of distracted walking have not been as comprehensively studied. Although practitioners should design facilities with the safety, efficiency, and comfort of pedestrians in mind, it is still important to investigate certain pedestrian behaviors at existing facilities to minimize the risk of pedestrian–vehicle crashes, and to reduce behaviors that may unnecessarily increase delay at signalized intersections. To gain new insights into factors associated with distracted walking, pedestrian violations, and walking speed, 3,038 pedestrians were observed across four signalized intersections in New York and Arizona using high-definition video cameras. The video data were reduced and summarized, and an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was estimated to analyze factors affecting walking speeds. In addition, binary logit models were estimated to analyze both pedestrian distraction and pedestrian violations. Ultimately, several site- and pedestrian-specific variables were found to be significantly associated with pedestrian distraction, violation behavior, and walking speeds. The results provide important information for researchers, practitioners, and legislators, and may be useful in planning strategies to reduce or mitigate the impacts of pedestrian behavior that may be considered unsafe or potentially inefficient.

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