The relationship between hip, knee and ankle muscle mechanical characteristics and gait transition speed

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between mechanical characteristics of hip, knee and ankle extensor and flexor muscle groups and gait transition speed. The sample included 29 physically active male adults homogenized regarding their anthropometric dimensions. Isokinetic and isometric leg muscle mechanical characteristics were assessed by an isokinetic dynamometer, while individual walk-to-run (WRT) and run-to-walk transition speeds (RWT) were determined using the standard increment protocol. The relationship between transition speeds and mechanical variables scaled to body size was determined using Pearson correlation and stepwise linear regression. The highest correlations were found for isokinetic power of ankle dorsal flexors and WRT ( r  = .468, p r  = .442, p r  = .340 to .427). The only knee muscle mechanical variable that correlated with WRT was low velocity knee flexor torque ( r  = .366, p