Analysis of Ground Reaction Forces within the Time and Frequency-Domains: Reassessment of the Effect of Visually Guided Foot Placement

Introduction The use of visual guidance, or targeting, to tread on a force platform while walking has been reported as a potentially confounding factor in gait research (Oggero et al., 1997). While there is evidence that constraining the foot to a specific area within a walkway alters stepping parameters (Hirokawa, 1989) and promotes the use of visual control strategies (Patla et al., 1996), there is little empirical support indicating that targeting impacts on the magnitude or variability of ground reaction force (GRF) parameters (Grabiner et al., 1995; Patla et al., 1989) or plantar foot pressures (Nicholson et al., 1998).