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Biomechanics
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Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second...
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Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second Edition

A special issue of Biomechanics (ISSN 2673-7078).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 March 2026 | Viewed by 2816

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Luis Augusto Teixeira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Motor Systems Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
Interests: body balance control in young, older and neurologic individuals; interlateral asymmetry of behavior
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on gait and balance control has evolved rapidly in recent years. By employing biomechanical techniques in scientific investigation, the knowledge on different factors related to this subject matter has increased. This observation applies not only to typical people but also to several special groups of particular interest within this theme, such as older adults, athletes or individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease, cerebral stroke or cerebral palsy, to mention some examples. To compose a Special Issue to be published in the “Neuromechanics” section, we invite authors to submit for consideration original or review manuscripts approaching the theme of “gait and balance control” from a biomechanical perspective. We expect to gather in this Special Issue the diversity of applied and theoretical advancements on the matter.

Dr. Luis Augusto Teixeira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomechanics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomechanics
  • motor control
  • balance
  • gait
  • athletes
  • Parkinson&rsquo
  • s disease
  • cerebral stroke
  • cerebral palsy
  • aging

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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14 pages, 951 KB  
Article
Does Speed-Normalized Double-Support Reflect Gait Stability in Parkinson’s Disease? A Model-Based Analysis
by Noppharath Sangkarit and Weerasak Tapanya
Biomechanics 2025, 5(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5040102 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 162
Abstract
Background: Double-support percentage (DS%) is often interpreted as a proxy for dynamic gait stability, yet its biomechanical meaning is confounded by its strong inverse coupling with walking speed. This distinction is critical in Parkinson’s disease (PD), where bradykinetic gait inherently prolongs DS%. To [...] Read more.
Background: Double-support percentage (DS%) is often interpreted as a proxy for dynamic gait stability, yet its biomechanical meaning is confounded by its strong inverse coupling with walking speed. This distinction is critical in Parkinson’s disease (PD), where bradykinetic gait inherently prolongs DS%. To isolate speed-independent stability demands, we introduced a model-based Stability Reserve Index (SRI), representing the deviation between predicted and observed double support after normalizing for velocity and anthropometrics. Methods: Using an open-access dataset of 63 individuals with PD (ON medication; Hoehn & Yahr 1–3) and 63 matched controls, step-based DS% was modeled using ANCOVA, incorporating centered walking speed, group, their interaction, and covariates. Predicted DS% at the sample’s grand mean speed was subtracted from observed DS% to derive the SRI, indexing whether double support exceeded expectations for a given biomechanical operating point. Results: PD participants walked slower than controls (p < 0.001), but once velocity was accounted for, DS% no longer differed between groups (p = 0.795–0.880), and the DS%–speed coupling remained intact (interaction p = 0.387). Speed-normalized predicted DS% (p = 0.159) and the SRI (p = 0.989) were likewise similar across groups. Within PD, SRI did not correspond to UPDRS-III or Hoehn & Yahr stage (ρ = 0.129–0.223, p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate that double-support behavior in mild-to-moderate PD is largely velocity-driven rather than reflecting altered dynamic stabilization strategies. While conceptually grounded in stability reserve theory, the SRI showed limited discriminatory value under ON-medication walking, suggesting that more sensitive multidimensional metrics—integrating CoM dynamics, variability, and step-to-step control—may be required to capture early instability in PD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second Edition)
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20 pages, 7649 KB  
Article
The Mechanistic Causes of Increased Walking Speed After a Strength Training Program in Stroke Patients: A Musculoskeletal Modeling Approach
by Georgios Giarmatzis, Nikolaos Aggelousis, Erasmia Giannakou, Ioanna Karagiannakidou, Evangelia Makri, Anna Tsiakiri, Foteini Christidi, Paraskevi Malliou and Konstantinos Vadikolias
Biomechanics 2025, 5(4), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5040097 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 236
Abstract
Background/Objectives: While strength training interventions improve walking performance in stroke survivors, the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated muscle-level adaptations following a 12-week moderate-to-high-intensity strength training program in ten chronic stroke survivors using comprehensive musculoskeletal modeling analysis. Methods: Three-dimensional gait [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: While strength training interventions improve walking performance in stroke survivors, the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated muscle-level adaptations following a 12-week moderate-to-high-intensity strength training program in ten chronic stroke survivors using comprehensive musculoskeletal modeling analysis. Methods: Three-dimensional gait analysis was performed pre- and post-intervention, with subject-specific OpenSim models estimating individual muscle forces, powers, and work capacities throughout stance phase. Results: Non-paretic hip flexor negative work capacity increased significantly (0.033 to 0.042 J/kg, p = 0.033, Cohen’s d = 0.47), driven by enhanced rectus femoris power absorption during late stance that mechanistically facilitated trunk acceleration through leg deceleration. Knee extensor force generation showed increasing trends during loading response in both limbs. During push-off, ankle plantar flexor force generation showed trends toward bilateral improvements, primarily through paretic soleus and gastrocnemius contributions, though power output remained unchanged, indicating persistent velocity-dependent muscular deficits. Conclusions: Improved gait performance in both limbs demonstrates that strength training produces functionally beneficial bilateral muscle-level reorganization. The absence of a control group limits causal inference, though the observed biomechanical adaptations align with functional improvements, supporting the integration of strength training into comprehensive stroke rehabilitation protocols targeting locomotor recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second Edition)
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8 pages, 675 KB  
Article
Impact of Walking Path Length on Gait Parameters During the 2-Minute Walk Test in Healthy Young Adults
by Cecilia Lo Zoppo, Valeria Belluscio and Giuseppe Vannozzi
Biomechanics 2025, 5(4), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5040082 - 10 Oct 2025
Viewed by 726
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The 2-minute walk test (2MWT) is a time-based gait assessment commonly employed for populations with limited walking ability for greater tolerability compared to the longer 6-minute test. The recommended distance to perform the tests is a 30 m straight path, a space [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The 2-minute walk test (2MWT) is a time-based gait assessment commonly employed for populations with limited walking ability for greater tolerability compared to the longer 6-minute test. The recommended distance to perform the tests is a 30 m straight path, a space requirement that is not always available in non-laboratory contexts. Shorter paths are therefore often adopted, but associated changes in gait patterns are not clear. The aim of the study is therefore to investigate how different walking path lengths affect gait patterns during the 2MWT. Methods: Twenty healthy young adults performed three walking trials on a straight hallway of 5 m, 15 m, and 30 m lengths. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using three inertial measurement units on both distal tibiae and at pelvis level. Results: The 5 m path showed the greatest deviations, specifically in walking distance, walking speed, stride duration, stance time, swing time, single support time, and cadence, if compared to longer distances (p < 0.05). The 15 m path showed differences only in walking distance and walking speed (p < 0.05), if compared to the 30 m path. Conclusions: Shorter path lengths, particularly the 5 m, significantly impact gait patterns and should be considered when interpreting 2MWT results in clinical settings. The 30 m path is recommended as the gold standard, with 15 m as a viable alternative for assessing temporal parameters. Nevertheless, the extent to which each feature would be over/underestimated when walking in limited spaces is also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second Edition)
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9 pages, 1024 KB  
Brief Report
Increased Hip-Flexion Gait as an Exercise Modality for the Reduction of Knee Joint Contact Forces: A Preliminary Investigation
by Tanner Thorsen and Nuno Oliveira
Biomechanics 2025, 5(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5030066 - 2 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1343
Abstract
Background: Increased hip-flexion gait (HFgait) has been shown to promote increased aerobic demands by increasing peak swing-phase hip-flexion angles while walking at comfortable speeds. Biomechanically, HFgait produces a gait pattern similar to walking, while removing the flight phase from running and reducing [...] Read more.
Background: Increased hip-flexion gait (HFgait) has been shown to promote increased aerobic demands by increasing peak swing-phase hip-flexion angles while walking at comfortable speeds. Biomechanically, HFgait produces a gait pattern similar to walking, while removing the flight phase from running and reducing tibial accelerations. We sought to identify knee joint contact forces between HFgait and common exercise modalities, including running, walking, and cycling, across intensity levels. Methods: Ten healthy participants completed two bouts (low and high intensity) of four different exercises: treadmill running, walking, HFgait, and cycling. Tibiofemoral joint compressive force (TCF) was estimated using a static optimization-based approach. Results: Peak TCF was greater in running compared to HFgait, walking, and cycling; greater in HFgait compared to cycling; and greater in walking compared to cycling. The integral of TCF (iTCF) was greater in running compared to cycling, greater in HFgait compared to running, walking, and cycling, and greater in walking compared to running and cycling. Conclusions: HFgait produced lower knee joint loading than running, comparable joint loading to walking, and greater joint loading than cycling. Thus, HFgait may serve as an exercise modality for populations where joint loading is of particular concern, while achieving aerobic demands similar to running or increased functional demands compared to stationary cycling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gait and Balance Control in Typical and Special Individuals: Second Edition)
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