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Effect of Surface Stiffness on Limb Stiffness During Walking

Image of a skeleton walking and two images of foam placed on the ground over force plates.

Humans walk on complex surfaces daily, adjusting to variations in stiffness, height, and angle to ensure forward progression and avoid injury. However, most research on human gait has focused on walking on flat, continuous surfaces, leaving a gap in our understanding of how people adapt to more challenging terrains. In this study, we are exploring how surface stiffness influences walking mechanics in healthy adults to better understand how humans adjust the mechanical behavior of their limbs to navigate smoothly on compliant surfaces. The findings can inform the design of assistive technologies and rehabilitation therapies, aimed at training and restoring healthy walking mechanics in clinical populations.