The purpose of this study is to examine how the amount and distribution of weight on the pelvis affects how people walk. The investigators have three factors, weight location, amount of weight and walking speed. They are examining how these factors affect energy expenditure, muscle activation, joint motions and foot forces. The investigators plan to recruit 40 healthy adult individuals. Each of the 20 experimental conditions (2x3x3 factorial and two control conditions with no weight) will be recorded immediately in a single session. The investigators hypothesize that weight amount, gait speed and weight distribution will all affect how people walk, which will lead towards optimized design of hip exoskeletons.
The investigators are examining how weight distribution affects the way people walk, in terms of energy expenditure, joint kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity. The investigators are measuring these quantities while people walk while wearing a weighted belt. The investigators distribute the weights and walk for specified periods. They hypothesize that greater weight will have a greater effect on walking.