Human kinematic, kinetic and EMG data during different walking and stair ascending and descending tasks

Abstract

This paper reports the kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG) dataset of human locomotion during level walking at different velocities, toe- and heel-walking, stairs ascending and descending. A sample of 50 healthy subjects, with an age between 6 and 72 years, is included. For each task, both raw data and computed variables are reported including: the 3D coordinates of external markers, the joint angles of lower limb in the sagittal, transversal and horizontal anatomical planes, the ground reaction forces and torques, the center of pressure, the lower limb joint mechanical moments and power, the displacement of the whole body center of mass, and the surface EMG signals of the main lower limb muscles. The data reported in the present study, acquired from subjects with different ages, represents a valuable dataset useful for future studies on locomotor function in humans, particularly as normative reference to analyze pathological gait, to test the performance of simulation models of bipedal locomotion, and to develop control algorithms for bipedal robots or active lower limb exoskeletons for rehabilitation.

Fig. 1

Experimental set-up. (a) Marker set of LAMB protocol, which includes a total of 29 markers: 25 anatomical markers (red dots) and 4 technical markers (white dots). Skeleton figures are taken from another source (https://pixabay.com/en/skeleton-human-skeletal-anatomy-41548/ and https://pixabay.com/en/skeleton-human-skeletal-anatomy-41550/). A preliminary calibration phase requires a static trial with additional 8 anatomical markers (grey dots), which are removed during the dynamic trials. The label of all markers are indicated. ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine; META1 and META5: first and fifth metatarsal heads; PSIS_MX: midpoint between right and left posterior superior iliac spines; GT: great trochanter; MEDCON and LATCON: medial and lateral femoral condyles; FH: fibular head; MEDMAL and LATMAL: medial and lateral malleoli. (b) Schematic drawing of the staircase used for step ascending/descending tasks (dynamometric platform is colored in green). (c) Pictures of a subject during the experiment equipped with markers and electrodes for EMG recording (see blowups). From left to right: standing, walking and step ascending trial.

Fig. 2

Data processing. Flowchart of data elaboration.

Fig. 3

Lower limb joint angles of all fifty subjects and all trials during level walking, toe-walking, heel-walking, step ascending and step descending. Each grey line represents the individual joint angles in the sagittal plane during a cycle and the black line represents the group average curve.

Fig. 4

Lower limb joint moments of all fifty subjects and all trials during level walking, toe-walking, heel-walking, step ascending and step descending. Each grey line represents the individual joint moments in the sagittal plane during a cycle and the black line represents the group average curve.