Journal of Applied Physiology Ad Instruments
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 85: 764-769, 1998;
8750-7587/98 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Free
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kram, R.
Right arrow Articles by Chang, Y. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kram, R.
Right arrow Articles by Chang, Y. H.
Vol. 85, Issue 2, 764-769, August 1998

SPECIAL COMMUNICATION
Force treadmill for measuring vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces

Rodger Kram, Timothy M. Griffin, J. Maxwell Donelan, and Young Hui Chang

Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3140

We constructed a force treadmill to measure the vertical, horizontal and lateral components of the ground-reaction forces (Fz, Fy, Fx, respectively) and the ground-reaction force moments (Mz, My, Mx), respectively exerted by walking and running humans. The chassis of a custom-built, lightweight (90 kg), mechanically stiff treadmill was supported along its length by a large commercial force platform. The natural frequencies of vibration were >178 Hz for Fz and >87 Hz for Fy, i.e., well above the signal content of these ground-reaction forces. Mechanical tests and comparisons with data obtained from a force platform runway indicated that the force treadmill recorded Fz, Fy, Mx and My ground-reaction forces and moments accurately. Although the lowest natural frequency of vibration was 88 Hz for Fx, the signal-to-noise ratios for Fx and Mz were unacceptable. This device greatly decreases the time and laboratory space required for locomotion experiments and clinical evaluations. The modular design allows for independent use of both treadmill and force platform.

biomechanics; locomotion; force platform


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
Y.-H. Chang, A. G. Auyang, J. P. Scholz, and T. R. Nichols
Whole limb kinematics are preferentially conserved over individual joint kinematics after peripheral nerve injury
J. Exp. Biol., November 1, 2009; 212(21): 3511 - 3521.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. P. McGowan, R. R. Neptune, and R. Kram
Independent effects of weight and mass on plantar flexor activity during walking: implications for their contributions to body support and forward propulsion
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2008; 105(2): 486 - 494.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
S. J. Lee and J. Hidler
Biomechanics of overground vs. treadmill walking in healthy individuals
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2008; 104(3): 747 - 755.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
L. P. J. Teunissen, A. Grabowski, and R. Kram
Effects of independently altering body weight and body mass on the metabolic cost of running
J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2007; 210(24): 4418 - 4427.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
Y.-H. Chang and R. Kram
Limitations to maximum running speed on flat curves
J. Exp. Biol., March 15, 2007; 210(6): 971 - 982.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram
Mechanical energy fluctuations during hill walking: the effects of slope on inverted pendulum exchange
J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2006; 209(24): 4895 - 4900.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. D. Ortega and C. T. Farley
Minimizing center of mass vertical movement increases metabolic cost in walking
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2005; 99(6): 2099 - 2107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram
Energy cost and muscular activity required for leg swing during walking
J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2005; 99(1): 23 - 30.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram
Energy cost and muscular activity required for propulsion during walking
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2003; 94(5): 1766 - 1772.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
J. Donelan and R Kram
Exploring dynamic similarity in human running using simulated reduced gravity
J. Exp. Biol., January 8, 2000; 203(16): 2405 - 2415.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
Y. Chang, H. Huang, C. Hamerski, and R Kram
The independent effects of gravity and inertia on running mechanics
J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2000; 203(2): 229 - 238.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
Y.-H. Chang and R. Kram
Metabolic cost of generating horizontal forces during human running
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 1999; 86(5): 1657 - 1662.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
T. M. Griffin, N. A. Tolani, and R. Kram
Walking in simulated reduced gravity: mechanical energy fluctuations and exchange
J Appl Physiol, January 1, 1999; 86(1): 383 - 390.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
K. Masani, M. Kouzaki, and T. Fukunaga
Variability of ground reaction forces during treadmill walking
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2002; 92(5): 1885 - 1890.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online