Abstract
In the field of biomechanics, many studies have been performed on dynamic tasks, like walking up and down a curb, and on static stability, like how the center of pressure moves while standing, but there is very little research on dynamic stability. In this study, we investigated the center of pressure and the center of mass and their relationship to one another in healthy individuals while walking up a curb. The distance between these two variables gave us an idea of how stable a person was when walking up a curb. To test these variables, we used a VICON Motion Capture System, force plates and a timing system. What we found was that there was only one significant difference that occurred between the heel strike on the ground and heel strike on the curb in the Y direction. This most likely meant that the participants did not take as long of a stride to step onto the curb. Since the center of pressure and center of mass were closer together on the curb, the person probably compensated for the curb by taking a smaller step and trying to maintain stability.
|