Using the Arms to Drive the Legs During Walking

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to understand and compare the metabolic and mechanical demands placed on the body while walking normally and walking with the use of an apparatus that drives leg swing through the use of the arms. This information will help the investigators identify how arm swing mechanics helps minimize energy demands and to use this knowledge to design walking rehabilitation interventions in the future.

Official Title
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Reducing Metabolic Cost of Walking by Exploiting Arm Swing to Drive Leg Swing

Conditions
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Metabolic Cost of Walking With Arm Swing Assistive Device

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Arm Swing Driven Assistive Apparatus


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Apparently healthy and free from neurological disease and/or body related injury Community-dwelling young men and women 18-36 yrs Use and be contacted by telephone Speak, read, understand, and complete a questionnaire in English Body mass index < 30 kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: not of the specified age range or Body Mass Index inadequate aerobic fitness training answering no to question #3 on Screening Form (Is participant in good general health?) answering yes to: question #4 (any difficulty with mobility?) question #5 (problems with balance/dizziness?) question #6 (lingering symptoms/pain from injury?) question #7 (chest pain/shortness of breath?) question #8 (high blood pressure/hypertension?), or questions #9, 10, 11 (first degree family history of heart attack?) question #12 (smoke cigarettes?) question #13 (diabetes?) question #14 (high cholesterol?) question #15 (Is participant pregnant?)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 36 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Single Group Experimental<br>Each participant will act as their own control with variables of interest measured while walking without the assistive device and while walking with the assistive device. | Device: Arm Swing Driven Assistive Apparatus<br>* The investigators are testing a simple, custom built apparatus to determine if it can facilitate the use of the arms to swing the legs during walking. More specifically, the investigators will measure how this assistive apparatus affects the metabolic cost and biomechanics of walking.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Metabolic Cost | Change in Metabolic Cost | Change from walking without assistive apparatus to walking with assistive apparatus. Measures of metabolic cost are completed within a 3-hour time window during a single laboratory visit. |