Effect of Frequency on Human Unipedal Hopping

Abstract

All mature forms of locomotion involve periods of unilateral stance. Unipedal hopping may provide useful information about the neuromuscular and biomechanical capabilities of a single lower extremity in adults. This study investigated whether hopping influenced vertical stiffness and lower extremity angular kinematics during human unipedal hopping. Vertical force and two-dimensional kinematics were measured in 10 healthy males hopping at three frequencies: preferred, +20%, and −20%. At +20%, compared to preferred, vertical stiffness increased 55% as hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion decreased, while at −20% vertical stiffness decreased 39.4% as hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion increased. As in bipedal hopping, the force-displacement relationship was more springlike at the preferred rate and +20% than at −20%. Given the prevalence of unilateral stance during walking, running, and skipping, findings related to unipedal hopping may be useful in the rehabilitation or conditioning of lower extremities.