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Purpose <p>This study quantified biomechanical modulation of walking using a multidimensional framework and examined its association with aging, with emphasis on distal ankle propulsion.</p> Methods <p>An open-access three-dimensional gait dataset of 240 healthy adults (18–91 years) was analyzed. Biomechanical modulation variables were defined as within-subject changes from comfortable to fast walking across spatiotemporal, kinetic, and joint-level measures. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized as an exploratory technique to derive composite modulation indices from a priori selected variables. Age associations were examined using linear regression and general linear models.</p> Results <p>Three modulation components explained 81.2% of total variance, representing global speed modulation, shock absorption, and distal ankle propulsion. Distal ankle propulsive modulation showed a significant, weak-to-moderate negative association with age (β = −0.31, R² = 0.10, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and a significant age-group effect (F(5,228) = 6.79, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, partial η² = 0.13). Participants aged ≥ 70 years exhibited substantially lower distal propulsive modulation than younger groups (Δ = 1.06, 95% CI 0.84–1.28). Other modulation components showed weak or no age associations.</p> Conclusion <p>Biomechanical modulation of walking is multidimensional and selectively affected by aging, with a pronounced threshold-like decline in distal ankle propulsion in later adulthood. Modulation-based assessment provides mechanistic insight beyond steady-state gait measures.</p>

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Multidimensional biomechanical modulation of walking reveals a threshold decline in distal ankle propulsion across aging

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月2日

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  • Noppharath Sangkarit,
  • Weerasak Tapanya

摘要

Purpose

This study quantified biomechanical modulation of walking using a multidimensional framework and examined its association with aging, with emphasis on distal ankle propulsion.

Methods

An open-access three-dimensional gait dataset of 240 healthy adults (18–91 years) was analyzed. Biomechanical modulation variables were defined as within-subject changes from comfortable to fast walking across spatiotemporal, kinetic, and joint-level measures. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized as an exploratory technique to derive composite modulation indices from a priori selected variables. Age associations were examined using linear regression and general linear models.

Results

Three modulation components explained 81.2% of total variance, representing global speed modulation, shock absorption, and distal ankle propulsion. Distal ankle propulsive modulation showed a significant, weak-to-moderate negative association with age (β = −0.31, R² = 0.10, p < 0.001) and a significant age-group effect (F(5,228) = 6.79, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.13). Participants aged ≥ 70 years exhibited substantially lower distal propulsive modulation than younger groups (Δ = 1.06, 95% CI 0.84–1.28). Other modulation components showed weak or no age associations.

Conclusion

Biomechanical modulation of walking is multidimensional and selectively affected by aging, with a pronounced threshold-like decline in distal ankle propulsion in later adulthood. Modulation-based assessment provides mechanistic insight beyond steady-state gait measures.