Adjusting Lateral Stepping Control for Navigating Curved Paths

Adjusting Lateral Stepping Control for Navigating Curved Paths | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Adjusting Lateral Stepping Control for Navigating Curved Paths Tayebeh Soleimani This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7820473/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Gait biomechanics is commonly studied in the context of straightforward walking, but real-world walking frequently involves turns and other complex maneuvers. These types of movements challenge lateral balance and can often lead to falls. Understanding how individuals regulate their stepping movements to stay balanced during such tasks is crucial. In this study, 24 adults (12 females, 12 males; average age 25.8 ± 3.5 years) walked along virtual paths of varying widths and curvatures—either straight, gently winding, or sharply winding. For each trial, we analyzed time series data of step widths and lateral positions relative to the path. Using the Goal Equivalent Manifold framework, we assessed how participants adjusted their lateral stepping and corrected step width and lateral position from one step to the next on these different paths. On narrower paths, participants tended to take narrower steps and showed less variability in their lateral position. They achieved this by making more corrections to lateral position with each step while adjusting step width less frequently. On winding paths, participants exhibited narrower and more variable steps. Interestingly, when walking on slowly winding paths, participants focused more on correcting step width by making fewer lateral position corrections, likely to maintain lateral balance. In contrast, on quickly winding paths, they made strong corrections to both step width and lateral position, balancing the two priorities in an effort to maximize maneuverability. These findings offer valuable insights for individuals with gait impairments, who may be at greater risk for falls, by highlighting the strategies used to maintain balance in complex walking environments. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7820473","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":585685320,"identity":"8252847c-21d7-4a7f-9daf-98952d7bbf8b","order_by":0,"name":"Tayebeh Soleimani","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA9klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHhBhwcAGohIqiNIA1iIB1XIGSLARqwUMGNuI0GIvkXuA8UeFhByf2OFnDx7Ou5PPL9987AFjjg1uWyTyEph5zkgYs0mnmRskbntmObONLd2AcVsaHi05BsyMbRKJbdIJZhKJ2w4bGBzjMZNg3HYYrxbGn20S9W3S6d8kEufAtfzHq4WBt00igU06B2hLA1zLAdxazrxLOAz0i2GbdE6ZRMKxZwaSbWlpQBcm49TC3p578OGPCht5+dnp2yR/1Nwx4Gc+fEzi4zY7nFoYBBIYkN0AZSfg1sDAwI/qaNxeGAWjYBSMgpELAKFZSzapPikwAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Islamic Azad University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tayebeh","middleName":"","lastName":"Soleimani","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-10-09 19:08:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7820473/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7820473/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":106402714,"identity":"1d5a163a-0802-47fd-acca-f1769da9a0e4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-08 09:12:38","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":961545,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MAINMANUSCRIPT.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7820473/v1_covered_fad10037-84fc-4954-8da3-924a9739be8e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Adjusting Lateral Stepping Control for Navigating Curved Paths","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7820473/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7820473/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eGait biomechanics is commonly studied in the context of straightforward walking, but real-world walking frequently involves turns and other complex maneuvers. These types of movements challenge lateral balance and can often lead to falls. Understanding how individuals regulate their stepping movements to stay balanced during such tasks is crucial. In this study, 24 adults (12 females, 12 males; average age 25.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.5 years) walked along virtual paths of varying widths and curvatures\u0026mdash;either straight, gently winding, or sharply winding. For each trial, we analyzed time series data of step widths and lateral positions relative to the path. Using the Goal Equivalent Manifold framework, we assessed how participants adjusted their lateral stepping and corrected step width and lateral position from one step to the next on these different paths.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOn narrower paths, participants tended to take narrower steps and showed less variability in their lateral position. 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