Least-action principle in gait

¹  Center for Scientific Research, Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education - Guangzhou 510500, China
²  International School, Jinan University - Guangzhou 510632, China
³  Bioengineering Department, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics - Beijing 100191, China
⁴  College of Foreign Languages, Jinan University - Guangzhou 510632, China

Corresponding author: tfyf@mailer.gipe.edu.cn

Received: 8 July 2009
Accepted: 24 August 2009

Abstract

We apply the laws of human gait vertical ground reaction force and discover the existence of the phenomenon of least-action principle in gait. Using a capacitive mat transducer system, we obtain the variations of human gait vertical ground reaction force and establish a structure equation for the resultant of such a force. Defining the deviation of vertical force as an action function, we observe from our gait optimization analysis the least-action principle at half of the stride time. We develop an evaluation index of mechanical-energy consumption based upon the least-action principle in gait. We conclude that these observations can be employed to enhance the accountability of gait evaluation.