The effect of obesity on whole-body angular momentum during steady-state walking. 2022

Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
College of Health and Rehabilitation Science: Sargent College, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

Individuals with obesity demonstrate deficits in postural stability, leading to increased fall risks. Controlling whole-body angular momentum is essential for maintaining postural stability during walking and preventing falls. However, it is unknown how obesity impacts whole-body angular momentum during walking. To investigate the change in angular momentum about the body's COM during walking in individuals with different degrees of obesity. Thirty-eight young adults with different body mass index (BMI) scores walked barefoot at their preferred speed on a treadmill for 2 min. The whole-body angular momentum has been quantified from ground reaction force and moment data to capture the rotational behavior of walking in individuals with obesity without relying solely on placing markers on anatomical landmarks. We found that adults with higher BMI scores walked slower with shorter step length, wider step width, and longer double support time (ps<.01). Ranges of the frontal- and transverse-plane angular momentum were greater in adults with higher BMI scores (ps<.01), while no difference was observed between BMI groups in the total sum of changes in whole-body angular momentum in any plane (ps>.05). Obesity not only decreased walking speed but also limited the ability to control mediolateral stability during walking. Investigating how obesity affects whole-body angular momentum may help better understand why adults with obesity have atypical gait with poor balance, address fall risk factors, and facilitate participation in physical activities.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D004856 Postural Balance A POSTURE in which an ideal body mass distribution is achieved. Postural balance provides the body carriage stability and conditions for normal functions in stationary position or in movement, such as sitting, standing, or walking. Postural Control,Posture Balance,Posture Control,Posture Equilibrium,Balance, Postural,Musculoskeletal Equilibrium,Postural Equilibrium,Balance, Posture,Control, Postural,Control, Posture,Equilibrium, Musculoskeletal,Equilibrium, Postural,Equilibrium, Posture,Postural Controls,Posture Balances,Posture Controls,Posture Equilibriums
D005684 Gait Manner or style of walking. Gaits
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D016138 Walking An activity in which the body advances at a slow to moderate pace by moving the feet in a coordinated fashion. This includes recreational walking, walking for fitness, and competitive race-walking. Ambulation
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults

Related Publications

Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
May 2023, Scientific reports,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
October 2023, Human movement science,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
July 2023, Assistive technology : the official journal of RESNA,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
August 2022, Journal of biomechanics,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
January 2011, Journal of biomechanics,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
April 2012, Journal of biomechanics,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
March 2023, The Journal of experimental biology,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
October 2014, Journal of biomechanics,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
October 2016, Journal of biomechanics,
Daekyoo Kim, and Cara L Lewis, and Simone V Gill
June 2021, Journal of biomechanics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!