Journal of Physical Therapy Science
Online ISSN : 2187-5626
Print ISSN : 0915-5287
ISSN-L : 0915-5287
Original Article
Forms of direction change during walking and effect on movement and reaction time
Kenji IidaHiroaki TaniKazuo Kurosawa
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JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2020 Volume 32 Issue 12 Pages 844-849

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Abstract

[Purpose] To elucidate factors that affect walking before and after direction changes and their effects on reaction time by investigating different angles of direction changes. [Participants and Methods] A total of 29 healthy young males and females participated in this study. The task was to walk along a 20-m path and perform three direction changes while walking: straight walking, 45° direction change, and 90° direction change. Step length and probe reaction time (P-RT) were measured before and after the point of direction change. A two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to measure P-RT and step length before and after direction changes. [Results] A significant effect was observed for step length and P-RT immediately before and after direction changes. An interaction was also observed between the angle of direction change and the step length before and after the direction change. When compared with the straight walk, a significant effect was observed at 45° and 90° direction changes. [Conclusion] While walking, 90° direction changes are suggested to be more difficult than 45° direction changes, and 45° direction changes are more difficult than walking in a straight line.

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© 2020 by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons [Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International] license.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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