Speed-driven transitions between discrete and rhythmic dynamics in walking revealed by kinematic smoothness and muscle synergies.

Authors

Giulia Panconi, Diego Minciacchi, Riccardo Bravi, Nadia Dominici

Published in

iScience. Volume 29. Issue 11. Pages 117779. Nov 20, 2026. Epub Oct 07, 2026.

Abstract

Humans control movement through motor primitives that generate discrete and rhythmic actions. We investigated whether and how speed may drive a transition between discrete and rhythmic organization in walking, and whether muscle synergy changes are associated with kinematic shifts. Eighteen healthy adults walked on a treadmill during incremental and decremental trials (0.5-5 km/h in 0.5 km/h steps). Kinematics and bilateral lower-limb EMG were recorded. Smoothness was quantified using log dimensionless jerk (LDJ) and spectral arc length (SPARC). Both metrics indicated lower smoothness at low speeds and progressively stabilized as speed increased, with a transition region around 3-3.5 km/h showing inter-individual variability. In parallel, EMG synergies showed speed-dependent increases in dimensionality (2→3→4), consistent with module merging at slower speeds. Overall, these findings reveal coordinated kinematic and neuromuscular shifts with speed, indicating a transition from a discrete-dominated regime at low speeds toward a more stable rhythmic pattern at higher speeds.

PMID:
42894803
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Oct 2026.

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