The determinants of the step frequency in walking in humans.

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Abstract
The mechanical power spent during walking in lifting and accelarating the centre of mass. .ovrhdot.Wext, has been measured at three given speeds maintained at different step frequencies: at any given speed, .ovrhdot.Wext is smaller the greater the step frequency used. The mechanical power spent in accelerating the limbs relative to the centre of mass during walking at a given speed, but with different step frequencies, .ovrhdot.Wint was calculated from previous data obtained during free walking (Cavagna and Kaneko, 1977). At a given walking speed, .ovrhdot.Wint increases with the step frequency. The total power, .ovrhdot.Wtot = .ovrhdot.Wext + .ovrhdot.Wint, reaches a minimum at a step frequency which is 20-30% less than the step frequency freely chosen at the same speed. The step frequency at which .ovrhdot.Wtot is minimum increases with speed in a similar way to the natural step frequecy during free walking.

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