What question did this study set out to answer?

To analyze the biomechanics and perceived effort associated with ambulation under varying partial gravity and incline conditions.

May 9, 2026Open Access

Biomechanics and Perceived Effort during Leveled and Inclined Partial Gravity Ambulation in the Offloading POWER Device

Puntos clave

To analyze the biomechanics and perceived effort associated with ambulation under varying partial gravity and incline conditions.
12 subjects ambulated on a treadmill using the POWER device, simulating partial gravity.
Conditions included speeds of 3mph and 4mph, gravity levels of 0.25g to 1g, and inclines of 0% and 10%.
Lower body kinematics were measured with inertial measurement units, and RPE assessments were conducted post-experiment.
Knee and hip flexion ROM were affected by gravity level and incline, while hip abduction ROM was influenced only by gravity.
Gait stability, measured by stride length variability, showed no significant differences across gravity levels.
Walking at 4mph with a 10% incline at 1g was perceived as the most challenging, while 0% incline at 3mph showed no significant impact on RPE.

Resumen

The upcoming Artemis missions mark a significant cornerstone in space exploration with the return of humans to the Moon. These missions underscore the need for an improved understanding of ambulation in partial gravity environments. This understanding of human performance holds the potential to greatly improve mission planning, spacesuit design, and the broader mission architecture. To perform an analysis of ambulation performance in partial gravity, we completed a study involving 12 subjects who ambulated under a series of conditions that varied in speed, incline, and gravity level. Specifically, the subjects ambulated at speeds of 3mph (1.34m/s) and 4mph (1.79m/s), gravity levels of 0.25g, 0.5g, 0.75g, and 1g, and inclines of 0% and 10%. To simulate the partial gravity environments, participants were placed in the portable offloading for walking, exercise, and running (POWER) device while ambulating on a treadmill. In addition, we utilized inertial measurement units (IMUs) placed on the subjects' lower body to characterize their kinematics and gait biomechanics. Furthermore, we conducted post-experiment assessments of participants' Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) to characterize the subjective physical demands of these conditions. Our findings revealed that knee and hip flexion range of motion (ROM) are influenced by variations in gravity level and incline, whereas hip abduction ROM is affected solely by gravity level. Gait stability, assessed through stride length variability, showed no significant differences across gravity levels, indicating that ambulation stability was unaffected. Moreover, RPE assessments revealed that walking 4mph with a 10% incline at 1g was perceived as the most challenging combination across all experimental conditions, whereas the 0% incline ambulation at 3mph (across all g levels) conditions and 0.25g conditions did not significantly influence RPE. These results further characterize ambulation on the POWER device and provide insight into more efficient and safer spacewalks, contributing to the advancement of Lunar exploration.

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