Amplified trunk-head contribution to whole-body angular momentum under perturbed conditions
Abstract
The study’s objective was to establish whether and how the contributions of different body segments to whole-body angular momentum are modulated during unperturbed level walking, unpredictable and adapted drop-like perturbations and hole negotiation gait. Whole-body kinematics were recorded for 18 participants using an infrared motion capture system (250 Hz) and segmental and whole-body angular momentum were calculated in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes across three consecutive steps: preparation, perturbation, and recovery. Compared to level walking, trunk-head segment contributions significantly increased ( p < 0.001) and lower limb contributions significantly decreased ( p < 0.001) across all planes following both drop-like perturbations and hole negotiation gait, with the greatest modulation observed during unpredictable perturbations. Furthermore, the trunk-head segment’s contribution was associated with the increased peak-to-peak range of whole-body angular momentum ( p < 0.001), indicating functionally relevant involvement in regulating whole-body angular momentum under perturbed conditions. Given that the trunk-head segment contributes most to frontal plane whole-body angular momentum (~ 50%) and considering the rapid increase in frontal plane angular momentum following unpredictable drop-like perturbations, trunk movement may be important for controlling whole-body angular momentum in the frontal plane during perturbations . The findings could be used to develop preventive treatments by implementing trunk coordination strategies to enhance stability control.
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BibTeX
@article{nikolaidou2026amplified,
title = {{Amplified trunk-head contribution to whole-body angular momentum under perturbed conditions}},
author = {Maria-Elissavet Nikolaidou and Christos Theodorakis and Lida Mademli and Falk Mersmann and Sebastian Bohm and Adamantios Arampatzis},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-76263-9},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76263-9},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Amplified trunk-head contribution to whole-body angular momentum under perturbed conditions
AU - Maria-Elissavet Nikolaidou
AU - Christos Theodorakis
AU - Lida Mademli
AU - Falk Mersmann
AU - Sebastian Bohm
AU - Adamantios Arampatzis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-76263-9
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76263-9
AB - The study’s objective was to establish whether and how the contributions of different body segments to whole-body angular momentum are modulated during unperturbed level walking, unpredictable and adapted drop-like perturbations and hole negotiation gait. Whole-body kinematics were recorded for 18 participants using an infrared motion capture system (250 Hz) and segmental and whole-body angular momentum were calculated in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes across three consecutive steps: preparation, perturbation, and recovery. Compared to level walking, trunk-head segment contributions significantly increased ( p < 0.001) and lower limb contributions significantly decreased ( p < 0.001) across all planes following both drop-like perturbations and hole negotiation gait, with the greatest modulation observed during unpredictable perturbations. Furthermore, the trunk-head segment’s contribution was associated with the increased peak-to-peak range of whole-body angular momentum ( p < 0.001), indicating functionally relevant involvement in regulating whole-body angular momentum under perturbed conditions. Given that the trunk-head segment contributes most to frontal plane whole-body angular momentum (~ 50%) and considering the rapid increase in frontal plane angular momentum following unpredictable drop-like perturbations, trunk movement may be important for controlling whole-body angular momentum in the frontal plane during perturbations . The findings could be used to develop preventive treatments by implementing trunk coordination strategies to enhance stability control.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -